Chicago Cubs: Breakout season has Javier Baez in the mix for NL MVP

Chicago Cubs: League leader in magic (and a bunch of other statistics)

Since the Cubs drafted Baez way back in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, we knew he could be something really special. We’ve seen flashes of that as the Cubs evolved from cellar dwellers to the toast of the league – and, this year, it’s been more than a flash.

Entering Saturday’s matchup with the Padres, Baez leads the National League with 84 runs batted in – already a new career-high. He’s tied with several players for second in doubles, with 29, and has 23 long balls to-boot.

Despite just a .333 on-base percentage (with a .299 average), Baez ranks seventh in the league in OPS at .914. With one more stolen base, he’ll join the 20-20 club for the first time. It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that he could reach 30-30 before season’s end, either.

This may read like a big book of statistics, but it’s because he’s amongst the league leaders in so many categories. He leads the NL in total bases (a career-high seven triples doesn’t hurt matters there) and has put an offense that’s been remarkably inconsistent on his back too many times to count already in 2018.

Chicago Cubs: Carrying the load on the North Side

Despite carrying the league’s highest winning percentage into this weekend at Wrigley, the Chicago Cubs offense has never really hit their stride. Sure, at times, they’ve hung some big numbers on opponents. But it seems, more often than not, they get blanked or manage one or two measly runs the next night.

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Kris Bryant hasn’t been himself since May. A lingering shoulder injury sapped his power – and has now sidelined the former MVP for a good deal of time. Anthony Rizzo, white-hot of late, went through some tumultuous ups and downs earlier this season before turning it on in the second half.

With their two biggest offensive weapons failing to play up to their lofty standards, it’s fallen on Baez to carry the team. And, time and time again, he has done so.

In Cubs wins this year, El Mago owns a 1.024 OPS – with a stellar .381 on-base percentage. Out of the three-spot in the order, Baez is hitting .377 – further evidence that he’s ready to assume the mantle of franchise cornerstone.

Granted, he’s still a bit of a free-swinger. But he’s shown a vast improvement from years past, punishing mistakes with great regularity – even learning to use the whole field, something he’s struggled to do.

Like Joe Maddon said – once he learns to use the whole field and lay off the breaking stuff out of the zone, he’ll be one of the best hitters in the game.

Chicago Cubs: A daily highlight reel at Wrigley Field

On any given day, Javier Baez can literally will his team to a victory.

Some days, it’s completing a pickoff play with Willson Contreras. Others, it’s going for a swim – no, not in Lake Michigan, but around an opponent’s tag at the bag. I’d say his physical abilities are unrivaled. But that’s not fair. His sheer baseball IQ surpasses even his physical gifts – which says a lot about what kind of player the Cubs have on their hands.

With Bryant sidelined, Baez has seen time at every infield position. As the season has progressed, you can tell he’s always on the mind of pitchers. He’s forced errant throws, flat out taken bases on them when they let their guard down and has even stolen home … again.

This is a kid who wants to be the best player – period. Not just on the Cubs. Not even in the National League. But he wants to bring his fiery passion to the front of all of baseball. And, if he can keep this up through the ‘dog days’ of summer, he may be rewarded with the game’s top honors.

All while chasing a second World Series ring.