Javier Baez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #1 prospect in 2014
  Tom Clark coached at Lake City (Fla.) CC for more than 20 years and had a history of recruiting and coaching Puerto Rican players. When the school changed its name and dropped athletics, Clark latched on with the Cubs as an area scout, and his experience came in handy scouting Baez, who was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Florida when he was 12. Baez's aggressive style had boiled over at times in his amateur career, even prompting a near-brawl at a 2010 showcase in Jupiter, Fla., but Clark got to know Baez and his family. The Cubs were confident enough to draft him ninth overall in 2011, signing him for a $2.625 bonus. After ending 2012 with a broken left thumb, Baez showed no ill effects in 2013, with a torrid finish at Double-A Tennessee pushing him to 37 home runs, tied for second in the minors. He led all minor leaguers with 111 RBIs and 75 extra-base hits. Baez has special bat speed and produces top-of-the-scale power with an exceptionally aggressive approach and swing. He has tremendous plate coverage and really has no true holes in his swing, which takes a direct and violent path to the ball. Baez has work to do with pitch recognition and can drift at times thanks to his leg kick, but he hits the ball so hard, he doesn't have to square it up to hit it out of the park. His patience and pitch recognition improved against better competition, and some scouts see him as an above-average hitter despite his propensity to chase. Baez's defensive tools suit him for shortstop, while his aggressiveness does not. He has average speed and solid range to go with solid actions and a 70-grade arm, but he needs to slow the game down and consistently make the routine play. He committed 44 errors on the season. His baseball instincts suit him well at the plate and on the basepaths, and his competitiveness, which at times comes across as over-the-top swagger, has helped him rise to big moments, such as a walk-off homer against Japan's World Baseball Classic team during a spring training exhibition game. Baez hit 41 homers in 2013 between big league spring training and the regular season--plus 10 more in minor league camp--and his power should make Wrigley Field look small sooner than later. With Starlin Castro signed through 2019 but coming off a poor season, Baez presents the Cubs with a fascinating option. If his defense improves with maturity and experience--reasonable, given his tools--he could force Castro to second or third base. More likely, Baez shifts to second or third, causing a logjam with other Cubs prospects such as 2013 first-rounder Kris Bryant and Baez's Tennessee double-play partner Arismendy Alcantara. Spring training will help decide Baez's 2014 assignment and position, but he profiles as an all-star-caliber, 30-homer infielder wherever he lands.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #1 prospect in 2013
  Born in Puerto Rico, Baez moved to Florida when he was 12. Going into his senior season at the Arlington Country Day School (Jacksonville, Fla.), he projected as a late first-round pick. He and Montverde (Fla.) Academy shortstop Francisco Lindor drew more than 100 scouts to a February showdown, and Baez kept impressing evaluators all spring. He batted .711 with 20 homers and went ninth overall to the Cubs--one pick after the Indians took Lindor--playing five pro games after signing for $2,625,000. Chicago kept him in extended spring training at the start of 2012 in order to tame his wild approach. That didn't really work, but his aggressiveness didn't stop him from posting a .979 OPS after he got to low Class A Peoria in late May. Managers named him the most exciting player in the Midwest League, where he also rated as the No. 1 prospect, and one scout said watching Baez take batting practice was the highlight of his summer. It took him just two months to hit his way to high Class A Daytona, where more advanced pitchers took advantage of his belief that he can hit any pitch in or out of the strike zone. The Cubs continued to challenge him after the season, taking the rare step of sending a teenager to the Arizona Fall League. He kept swinging from his heels, batting .211 but drilling four homers in 14 games, before breaking the tip of his left thumb in a pregame accident. He'll be fine by spring training. Baez has electric bat speed that elicits comparisons to the gold standard (Gary Sheffield), and he turns it loose every time. At some point he's going to have to tone down his swing and take more pitches--probably once he understands that opponents won't challenge him if they don't have to--but he has an uncanny ability to impart a lot of topspin on balls even when he doesn't square them up. His offensive ceiling is ridiculous, as it's not out of the question that he could develop into a well above-average hitter for both average and power. His bat alone could make him a superstar, but Baez offers a lot more in his tool kit. He surprised MWL observers and the Cubs with his smooth actions and range at shortstop. He eventually may outgrow the position, but scouts give him a chance to stay there for a while. His arm gives him a third well above-average tool, and he'd have no problem fulfilling the offensive and defensive requirements at third base. He has strong instincts and is much more under control as both a defender and baserunner. With average speed, he swiped 24 bases in 29 attempts last year. Baez plays with a cockiness that tends to infuriate opponents, which explains why he was hit by 10 pitches in 57 MWL games. As an offensive-minded shortstop, he could be better than Starlin Castro. Baez has better defensive tools, more power and similar hitting ability. The Cubs probably won't displace Castro, but they'll keep Baez at shortstop until he shows he can't play there. He should see Double-A Tennessee at some point in 2013, perhaps even on Opening Day. Once he moderates his approach at the plate, he could get to Wrigley Field in a hurry.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #2 prospect in 2012
  Born in Puerto Rico, Baez moved to Florida in 2005 and batted .711 with 20 homers as a high school senior last spring. Though the Cubs need pitching, they passed on several college arms to draft him ninth overall last June. He signed for $2.625 million at the Aug. 15 deadline. Baez had the best bat speed in the 2011 draft, prompting comparisons to Gary Sheffield and Hanley Ramirez. In terms of the 20-80 scouting scale, Chicago thinks Baez could develop into a 70 hitter with 65 power. He's still learning that he doesn't have to overswing to do damage. His arm strength gives him a third well above-average tool and may allow him to stay at shortstop. Baez is an average runner with average range who will have to find a new position if he loses a step, with third base perhaps the best longterm fit. Second base, right field and even catcher are other options. Overly aggressive and emotional at times, he'll need time to mature on and off the field. Baez has the highest ceiling in the system and could move quickly. His bat eventually should fit into the No. 3 slot in Chicago's lineup and should provide enough offense for any position. He'll head to low Class A Peoria at age 19.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #3 prospect in 2014
  Baez had a rough start at Triple-A, hitting .172 in April with 22 strikeouts in 58 at-bats. His turnaround began in May, was punctuated by a long, opposite-field home run off Nationals top prospect Lucas Giolito at the Futures Game and culminated with 12 homers in July and August followed by a major league callup. Of Baez's hitting approach, one scout called him a "grip it and rip it" player. "He has a huge (bat) wrap but big-time bat speed, and he cuts it loose on almost every pitch," the scout said. "You'll see a lot of strikeouts and a lot of extra bases." "This guy swings coming out of his shoes. He's got huge power," said Fresno manager Bob Mariano, who spent several years as a hitting coach. Baez frequently expands his strike zone, though, and his lack of plate awareness showed in his big league performance. His defense and arm strength, however, were lauded across the board. He has the range for shortstop or second base, and his power also would profile on an outfield corner.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #3 prospect in 2013
  Baez and Sano showed precocious talent and occasional bouts of immaturity that made scouts question their makeup, but both players had tools and performance to back up their swagger. Baez claimed the FSL as his own on June 10, the day after Sano?s promotion to Double-A, hitting four home runs in a game against Fort Myers. Baez earned his own promotion less than a month later and wound up tying for second in the minors with 37 homers?two more than Sano. Baez has similar swing-and-miss tendencies thanks to bat speed as good as any minor leaguer, as well as an aggressiveness that borders on recklessness. Most scouts consider Baez a future .260-.270 hitter. While Baez earns 70 grades for his power and arm, he?s an erratic defender at short, where his aggressiveness also works against him. Most scouts still believe he could handle the position, as he has solid range and average speed, but he?d likely be more consistent at less-demanding positions such as second or third base.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #3 prospect in 2013
  In the words of SL observers, Baez?s bat speed is ?ridiculous,? and he knows he can ?hit just about anything hard.? He can, and often did, crushing 20 homers in 54 games at Tennessee to give him 37 for the year, which tied him with the Astros? George Springer for second in the minors. However, no minor leaguer topped Baez?s totals for extra-base hits (75) or RBIs (111), though some pitchers found success by expanding the zone and exploiting his over-aggressiveness. Baez has impact potential on offense. If he reduces the frequency at which he gets himself out, Baez can be a 60 hitter with easy 70 power and the ability to take the ball out to any field. ?When he?s in swing mode it?s not hard to get him out,? Jacksonville manager Andy Barkett said, ?but when he?s zoned in, you had better make a mistake down in the zone.? Baez?s future position is more unsettled. He has plus arm strength and the capacity to make difficult plays at shortstop, though many scouts see him as a future third baseman because he struggles to slow the game down. He improved his defensive efficiency at Tennessee (.948 fielding percentage, compared to .922 at high Class A Daytona), though in total he committed 44 errors in 123 games this season.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Fall League #1 prospect in 2012
  At 19, Baez was considered by many evaluators to have the highest ceiling in the league. Coming off an impressive full-season debut spent between two Class A levels, Baez batted just .211 with 14 strikeouts in 57 at-bats, but also slugged four home runs despite missing half of the season after breaking the tip of his left thumb. Offensively, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Baez displays plus raw power thanks to elite bat speed. He hit multiple home runs over 400 feet in games and countless more in batting practice. Baez has an aggressive approach that causes him to get behind in counts, exposing his offspeed struggles, but scouts believe he will hit for a solid average in time. Defensively, Baez displays impressive athleticism, good hands and a strong arm that should allow him to stick at shortstop long-term.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #1 prospect in 2012
  Baez spent barely two months at Peoria, yet that was long enough for managers to tap him as the MWL's most exciting player. His elite bat speed draws comparisons to Gary Sheffield's, giving him the potential to be a well above-average hitter for average and power. A National League scout called Baez' batting practice the highlight of his summer. Baez is incredibly aggressive at the plate, taking a huge hack at everything, but he also has a knack of imparting tremendous topspin when he mishits the ball. He plays much more under control in other areas of the game, exhibiting average speed and good instincts on the bases. His actions and range at shortstop were a pleasant surprise, and his arm never has been questioned, but he may outgrow the position and move to third base once he fills out. "Instinctually, he's about as good a baseball player as I've ever seen," an American League scout said. "He makes the right decision and knows what's going on. That bat has a chance to be really good and I think he'll be able to play shortstop unless his body becomes an issue."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #5 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #61 prospect in 2012

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Born in Puerto Rico, Baez moved to Florida when he was 12. Going into his senior season at the Arlington Country Day School (Jacksonville, Fla.), he projected as a late first-round pick. He and Montverde (Fla.) Academy shortstop Francisco Lindor drew more than 100 scouts to a February showdown, and Baez kept impressing evaluators all spring. He batted .711 with 20 homers and went ninth overall to the Cubs--one pick after the Indians took Lindor--playing five pro games after signing for $2,625,000. Chicago kept him in extended spring training at the start of 2012 in order to tame his wild approach. That didn't really work, but his aggressiveness didn't stop him from posting a .979 OPS after he got to low Class A Peoria in late May. Managers named him the most exciting player in the Midwest League, where he also rated as the No. 1 prospect, and one scout said watching Baez take batting practice was the highlight of his summer. It took him just two months to hit his way to high Class A Daytona, where more advanced pitchers took advantage of his belief that he can hit any pitch in or out of the strike zone. The Cubs continued to challenge him after the season, taking the rare step of sending a teenager to the Arizona Fall League. He kept swinging from his heels, batting .211 but drilling four homers in 14 games, before breaking the tip of his left thumb in a pregame accident. He'll be fine by spring training. Scouting Report: Baez has electric bat speed that elicits comparisons to the gold standard (Gary Sheffield), and he turns it loose every time. At some point he's going to have to tone down his swing and take more pitches--probably once he understands that opponents won't challenge him if they don't have to--but he has an uncanny ability to impart a lot of topspin on balls even when he doesn't square them up. His offensive ceiling is ridiculous, as it's not out of the question that he could develop into a well above-average hitter for both average and power. His bat alone could make him a superstar, but Baez offers a lot more in his tool kit. He surprised MWL observers and the Cubs with his smooth actions and range at shortstop. He eventually may outgrow the position, but scouts give him a chance to stay there for a while. His arm gives him a third well above-average tool, and he'd have no problem fulfilling the offensive and defensive requirements at third base. He has strong instincts and is much more under control as both a defender and baserunner. With average speed, he swiped 24 bases in 29 attempts last year. Baez plays with a cockiness that tends to infuriate opponents, which explains why he was hit by 10 pitches in 57 MWL games. The Future: As an offensive-minded shortstop, he could be better than Starlin Castro. Baez has better defensive tools, more power and similar hitting ability. The Cubs probably won't displace Castro, but they'll keep Baez at shortstop until he shows he can't play there. He should see Double-A Tennessee at some point in 2013, perhaps even on Opening Day. Once he moderates his approach at the plate, he could get to Wrigley Field in a hurry.
• August, 2012 Scouting Report
  At 19, Baez was considered by many evaluators to have the highest ceiling in the league. Coming off an impressive full-season debut spent between two Class A levels, Baez batted just .211 with 14 strikeouts in 57 at-bats, but also slugged four home runs despite missing half of the season after breaking the tip of his left thumb. Offensively, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Baez displays plus raw power thanks to elite bat speed. He hit multiple home runs over 400 feet in games and countless more in batting practice. Baez has an aggressive approach that causes him to get behind in counts, exposing his offspeed struggles, but scouts believe he will hit for a solid average in time. Defensively, Baez displays impressive athleticism, good hands and a strong arm that should allow him to stick at shortstop long-term.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Born in Puerto Rico, Baez moved to Florida in 2005 and batted .711 with 20 homers as a high school senior last spring. Though the Cubs desperately need pitching, they passed on several college arms to draft him ninth overall last June. He signed for $2.625 million at the Aug. 15 deadline. Scouting Report: Baez had the best bat speed in the 2011 draft, prompting comparisons to Gary Sheffield and Hanley Ramirez. In terms of the 20-80 scouting scale, Chicago thinks Baez could develop into a 70 hitter with 65 power. He's still learning that he doesn't have to overswing to do damage. His arm strength gives him a third well above-average tool and may allow him to stay at shortstop. Baez is an average runner with average range who will have to find a new position if he loses a step, with third base perhaps the best long-term fit. Second base, right field and even catcher are other options. Overly aggressive and emotional at times, he'll need time to mature on and off the field. The Future: Baez has the highest ceiling in the system and could move quickly. His bat eventually should fit into the No. 3 slot in Chicago's lineup and should provide enough offense for any position. He'll head to low Class A Peoria at age 19.