Chicago Cubs: Baez put the Cubs on his shoulders this postseason

Besides his power numbers and flashy defensive plays, Javier Baez has been the best player on the Chicago Cubs team since the playoffs began. And he’s done it in some poignant ways.

Baez may be the best all-around defensive player in the MLB. Though, to anyone that’s watched the Chicago Cubs transformation from National League Central bottom-feeder to perennial powerhouse, the success of a young player like comes as no surprise.

With the Glove:

The young defensive stud is third in Defensive Runs Saved (11), fourth in Range Runs (6) and has the sixth highest Ultimate Zone Rating (5.3) on the Cubs. He led all of Chicago’s second basemen in total defense as well.

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His 283 defensive assists are second on the team behind Addison Russell and were third in DRS above average.

Compared to all other second basemen in the league, Baez is eighth in Defensive Efficiency, fifth in Range Runs, and third in DRS.

He’s also a Top-20 shortstop, even though he doesn’t see as much playing time at that position. If given the opportunity, it’s easy to assume his numbers would be similar, if not better, than his stats at second.

With the Bat:

Offensively, the young shortstop cut his strikeout rate from 41% in 2014 to 24% this year. His .317 BaBIP and 92.8 average fastball velocity are both higher than the Cubs team averages.

This year, he’s a .300 hitter when ahead in the count, hitting six of his 14 total home runs.

In the NLDS against San Francisco, Baez went 6-for-16, with one home run—a game winner against Johnny Cueto in the eighth inning—and runs scored.

He’s continuing his success in the NLCS as well. He’s second to Willson Contreras with a .391/.609/.1.025 slash-line. Only Kris Bryant has more total bases (15) than Baez (14)—who has the team’s lone stolen base of the postseason.

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A large factor in his success offensively is where he bats in Joe Maddon’s lineup. When he bats eighth, Baez is slashing .291/..476/.783 with four home runs and 22 RBI’s. He has 37 hits—including three doubles and three home runs—when hitting seventh. This makes his presence at the bottom of the order one of great importance.

The majority of Chicago’s offensive production has come from the bottom of the lineup during these playoffs. Fortunately for the Cubs, that’s where they keep their offensive engine.