What can we expect from Chicago Cubs youngsters in 2015?

Sep 14, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez (9) fields a ground ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Javier Baez – #9 – Second Base/Shortstop

There was no arrival more hyped last season in all of Major League Baseball than that of Javier Baez, who has long been regarded as the best player in the Chicago Cubs organization. After crushing his way through virtually every level of the farm system, topped off with a .260/.323/.510 slash line in 104 games with Triple-A Iowa early last season, in which he hit 23 home runs and drove in 80 runs.

He got the call on Aug. 5 against the Colorado Rockies, and he promptly lit the fire under Cubs fans watching, hitting a home run in his big league debut on the road against the Colorado Rockies. Two nights later, he recorded the first multi-homer game of his career, going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and 4 RBI. However, from the word ‘go,’ he struggled to make contract en route to a horrendous .169/.227/.324 line in 52 games with Chicago – including a staggering 95 strikeouts in just 229 plate appearances.

Oftentimes, Baez would get caught reaching on breaking pitches out of the zone, taking massive hacks when the situation would suggest a shorter, more compact stroke would be a better approach. This offseason, the 22-year-old is supposed to be working on his poise at the plate in the Puerto Rican Winter League, but, thus far, his numbers are little improved.

In an admittedly small sample size of 11 games (43 at-bats), Baez is batted just .233/.306/.442 – with 21 strikeouts. He’s also hit a pair of home runs, but his high strikeout numbers will no doubt be a concern for the organization heading into 2015, when the young infielder is expected to be a big part of the team’s offense.

According to Steamer projections on FanGraphs, the Cubs prospect will produce at the big league level next season, although his line leaves plenty to be desired. Estimated to bat .225/.279/.419, Baez is projected to hit 23 home runs and drive in just under 60 runs – although he’ll strike out over 150 times in 516 plate appearances – which, should be noted, is a marked improvement over his performance last season.

Cutting down on his Waveland-or-bust approach and learning to lay off bad pitches will be key for Baez in 2015. If he can cut down on the strikeouts and focus on putting the ball in play, his numbers could be better than projected. However, if he fails to make adjustments, don’t expect him to be the offensive force Cubs fans are anxiously awaiting.