MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 28: Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the secomd inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on April 28, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

23. Javy Baez

It took parts of three MLB seasons for Chicago Cubs infielder Javy Baez to establish himself as a full-time fixture in the starting lineup. One of the game’s top prospects when he made his debut, Baez hit just .169/.227/.324 with 95 strikeouts in 52 games after his first call-up in 2014 at the age of 21. He was sent back down to the Minors in 2015, his stock way down. While Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber emerged as heroes, Baez was still trying to nail down a starting job.

Baez went down to Triple-A in 2015 and proved himself, but his return to the big leagues at the end of the year pointed more to a future career as a utility infielder, not as a superstar. Utility man is exactly the role Cubs manager Joe Maddon had in mind for Baez in 2016, and he hit .273/.314/.423 in 142 games with 14 home runs and 59 RBI — strong production for a hitter who took only 421 official at-bats.

After another part-time year in 2017 (469 at-bats in 145 games), Baez finally earned a permanent starting role in 2018. He rewarded the Cubs’ patience with an MVP-caliber year, hitting .290/.326/.554 with 34 home runs and 111 RBI. Baez was an All-Star, finished second in the MVP vote, led the league in RBIs and won the Silver Slugger.

Proving that 2018 was no fluke, Baez has started 2019 by hitting .327/.358/.673 with nine home runs and 22 RBI in his first 24 games. He is finally coming into his own in his sixth MLB season, and may have a claim to the title of best player on the Cubs if he can keep up this level of production for another full season.

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