Player Spotlight: JAVY BAEZ

Despite only playing in the majors since 2014, Javy Baez has had no shortage of highlights playing for the Cubs. He hit a game-winning home run in his first game in the big leagues, going on to hit 5 HRs in his first 14 games of his debut season.

From that point on, Baez has enjoyed a career with peaks that were much higher than its valleys, and has gone on to further solidify himself as a growing legend the hearts and minds of the fans that watch him play at Wrigley.

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Humble Beginnings

Javier Baez was born in Puerto Rico in 1992, where he lived with his parents and three siblings. His father, who died before Baez was ten, introduced Javy to the game of baseball, with which he immediately fell in love. In 2005, when his sister needed medical treatment in Florida, the family moved to the Jacksonville area, where Baez would later go on to star for his high school team at Arlington Country Day.

Nearly as soon as he started playing high school baseball, he began to catch the eyes of college and professional scouts. Despite struggling with English throughout his education, he quickly became an All-American and committed to play at Jacksonville State University after graduation.

Like many star baseball players, he never completed college. The Cubs drafted Baez 9th overall in the 2011 draft.

A Decorated Career

After his major league debut in 2014, Baez had an up-and-down season in 2015, first missing the major league call-up after spring training, and then missing time due to a prolonged injury as well as dealing with the death of his sister. By the September roster expansions, however, Javy Baez was healthy and ready for another chance at the big leagues. He took that chance, being named to the team's playoff roster and hitting a crucial 3-run home run in the NLDS against the Cardinals as they advanced to the next round.

In 2016, Baez was an everyday starter, leading him to be a pivotal part of the Cubs' historic World Series run. He performed so well in the NLCS against the Dodgers, he was named a Co-MVP in the series that allowed the team to advance to the biggest stage in the game.

Baez wouldn't be recognized as an All-Star until this year, 2018, but he's made his presence known in a big way. Known to be one of the MLB's few remaining "5-tool players" — meaning he can bat for both average and power, as well as run the bases, well, field, and throw — Baez has spent the whole season with a legitimate claim to be in the thick of the NL MVP discussion. Batting close to .300 with over 30 HRs, 110 RBIs, and over 20 SBs, his numbers have been nothing short of stellar.

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