Royals’ Javier Vaz Thrives As An Underdog
Javier Vaz is used to being an underdog.
Vaz attended Louisiana State-Eunice JC for two seasons before transferring to Vanderbilt. He saw limited playing time as a junior until an injury to a teammate gave him the opportunity to star for the Commodores on their 2021 run to the College World Series.
Vaz had to wait until the 15th round in 2022 to be drafted.
Perseverance eventually paid off for the 5-foot-9, 160-pound second baseman. The 22-year-old has taken advantage of every opportunity along the way to turn himself into an intriguing prospect.
“I’ve been overlooked all my life,” Vaz said. “. . . It put a little chip on my shoulder.”
Vaz has been helped by plenty of family support. His father Roberto Vaz was a longtime minor leaguer and is now a coach in the Cubs system. Just as important was his grandmother, a softball player in her native Puerto Rico who later moved to New York City.
Vaz was born and raised in Alabama, where his father played college ball for the Crimson Tide. During his youth, Javier often spent summers in New York, with his grandmother regularly hitting ground balls to him.
“I wouldn’t be playing the game I am playing today,” Vaz said, “without my pops and my abuela.”
Vaz stands out for three facets of his game: advanced bat-to-ball skills, plus speed and versatility.
He consistently walks far more than he strikes out. This year at High-A Quad Cities, he walked 46 times against 28 strikeouts. He hit .262/.360/.387 with six home runs and 25 stolen bases in 27 attempts through 81 games.
Vaz has started games at second base, left field, shortstop and center field this season, but he hesitates to say where he fits best.
“On the field is my best position,” Vaz said. “I could play anywhere at a very high defensive level.”
ROYALTIES
— The Royals signed 19 of their 21 draft picks, with first-round, high school catcher Blake Mitchell earning the top bonus of $4,897,500.
— The Royals signed four passed over players after the draft, with the most intriguing being Kansas City high school outfielder Noah Barber, son of former NFL linebacker Shawn Barber. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Barber was set to play football at Kansas before agreeing to terms with the Royals.
