While there has been plenty of talk about Kris Bryant and his contractual status impacting the Chicago Cubs decision to name him to the Opening Day roster, there hasn’t been a ton of talk about fellow budding star Javier Baez.
Of course, the issue with Bryant is that he’s smashing the cover off the ball (he has nine home runs thus far through spring training) while Baez looks absolutely dreadful with the stick. That said, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn’t care about his struggles at the plate and wants to see the infielder in the Windy City come Opening Day.
Maddon thinks the woeful issue at the play can be fixed but likes everything else he sees from Javier Baez and wants him to break camp with the team.
“I might be the only guy sitting around here to tell you I’m really not concerned about that right now,” Maddon said. “The swing has nothing to do with it for me. And that’s the obvious, surface-layer kind of stuff. That’s the part that’s gonna change. But if you’re breaking down the other components of his game, this is one of the best young players I’ve seen. Period.”
It sounds like Joe Maddon is going to get his wish as CSN Chicago reports Javier Baez told the Chicago Sun-Times he’s already been informed he’ll be making the team.
Somewhere in Arizona, Kris Bryant is quietly crying in the corner.
