Chicago Cubs: Five players poised for a big 2017 season

Javier Baez – 2B, SS, 3B

The Cubs’ Javier Baez is quickly earning a reputation that most fans in Chicago already knew. The kid is a wizard in the field. And with his recent performance, it seems that the entire world may be taking notice. I mean, on the World Baseball Classic stage, who tags a guy without looking?

Yes, Baez does. As the wandering nomad on the infield, he excelled wherever Maddon put him in the infield. It’s likely he may find himself as the primary second baseman this season, but we’re all very aware of what Maddon likes to do. Baez will still move around this year.

As Baez has cut down on his strikeouts he’s become a complete hitter. No longer looking to drive the ball out of the park with every swing, he’s learned to put the ball in play–even with two strikes.

If Baez takes the next step at the plate–which I believe he will–the Cubs will have another power bat that can also put the ball in play when necessary. He proved that throughout the NLDS and NLCS, and is just one more superstar in the making for the Cubs.