A prospect that was usually ranked anywhere from 3-6 in the MLB’s Top 100 prospects and one of the catalysts to the future of the Chicago Cubs, Javier Baez, is getting the call to join them tomorrow evening in Denver when the Cubs take on the Colorado Rockies per Bruce Levine of 670 the Score.
Baez has been consistently ranked as the best or second best prospect within the Cubs system since he was drafted in 2011. Baez has been a plus power shortstop possessing a level of elite power and batspeed not often seen. He has been compared to Gary Sheffield in matters of swing and batspeed.
The Cubs’ middle infield prospect has been notorious for having slow starts at each new level but has never failed to impress in each stage of his minor league development.
Despite his average being as low as .143 early in the season in AAA, Baez went on a ridiculous tear and currently sports a .260/.323/.510 triple slash putting up 23 HR and 80 RBI.
This all follows his campaign from last year. When combined his stats between High-A and Double A in 2013 showed much promise. Baez posted 37 HR and 111 RBI, along with a combined .282/.341/.578.
This call-up is one of several that the Cubs will execute in the coming years, all of which are expected to have a profound impact on a historically futile franchise. The Cubs are still searching for their first World Series championship in 106 years.
However with a strong farm system, the time is now for the Cubs to string together some impressive seasons in hopes of re-entering the pennant race in 2015.
The Cubs remain far from contention as it is in 2014, but with the lineup slowly coming together and the resurgence of Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo the Cubs appear to be very productive in the areas that matter. This makes a return to the playoff race as soon as next year seems quite probable.
With around half of the Cubs lineup containing stars of the future, the days of Wrigleyville depression are nearly over.