Cub fans will soon get to see another one of their team’s hottest prospects debut in the Major Leagues. MLB.com’s Cubs beat writer Carrie Muskat reports that the Chicago Cubs have called up shortstop Javier Baez from Triple-A Iowa to the Major Leagues, and he will join the team in Denver Tuesday night when the Cubs play the Colorado Rockies. The Cubs made the announcement Monday afternoon.
It’s happening, #Cubs fans. Javier Baez is expected to join the big leagues tomorrow: http://t.co/8rbUPQWJYs pic.twitter.com/Nb14LETz3M
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 4, 2014
Baez is the Cubs’ #2 prospect, and he is #5 overall according to Baseball America. He was hitting .260 with 23 HR and 80 RBI at the time of his call-up.
With Baez up and second baseman/center fielder Arsimendy Alcantara already up, who is next for the rebuilding Cubs? Since Baez plays mainly shortstop, he conflicts with current shortstop Starlin Castro. So does shortstop prospect Addison Russell. Baez has played a little at second base, but Alcantara is there. Alcantara can move to center field to give Baez a shot at second; Darwin Barney is gone.
Assuming Baez plays second base (where he has played of late), that gives the Cubs an infield of Anthony Rizzo at first, Baez at second, Castro at short, and Luis Valbuena at third. Valbuena is solid and has some power (.251, 10 HR, 38 RBI in 99 games), but he is not the Cubs’ long-term third baseman. The Cubs do, though, have that man waiting in Triple-A. His name is Kris Bryant.
The Cubs’ top prospect, Bryant has ripped his way from rookie ball to Triple-A in less than two years. He began 2014 with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, but after hitting .355 and blasting 22 home runs in 68 games, Double-A was just too easy. He moved up to Iowa in June and continued where he left off: .308 with 14 HR in 44 games. With this type of production from Bryant and the Cubs in dire need of offense, Cub fans may expect to see Bryant hitting at Wrigley Field well before season’s end. The Cubs would then have a very powerful infield that, once it gels, will drive in runs in droves.
Despite the notion of allowing the prospects to win their Minor League pennant races, the Cubs appear to feel that letting their prospects get used to Major League pitching will prove more valuable for next year and beyond. The plan all along included getting the best young players in the system and bringing them up together to build a winner in Chicago. Alcantara and Baez are up, joining Rizzo and Castro. Baez, Russell, and others are not far behind. It may take another year or two to see the fruits of the labor both on the field and in the front office, but the future looks very good for the Chicago Cubs.
PHOTO CREDIT: AP Photo/Chris Carlson
