NEWSLETTER
Young or old, everybody loves Javy Baez.
When Baseball America ranked every Major League player by best tools earlier this year, we were entirely unsurprised to see Baez’s name all over the leaderboards. From top-three finishes in the NL for best baserunner, best defensive second baseman, best infield arm and more, Baez had CLEARLY garnered the attention of the masses in the best possible way.
But the distinction I was happiest to see him “win” was Most Exciting Player. Baez beat out Ozzie Albies of the Braves and Nolan Arenado of the Rockies for most exciting player in the National League, and, frankly, I don’t think there’s any way he wouldn’t beat the AL’s top vote-getter, Mike Trout, in this particular race.
So basically, yeah, Javy Baez is the most exciting player in baseball. That’s cool. You knew it already, but there was some evidence outside your own experience.
And it’s not just we old farts who’ve noticed the intoxicating magic of El Mago!
The always wonderful duo behind Cespedes Family BBQ tallied up 213 Little League World Series participants to find out who is the most popular player to them, and you’ll never guess …
We tallied up the 213 Little Leaguers’ favorite players to find the most popular MLB player in Williamsport. Last year it was Aaron Judge. This year? #LLWS
⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/EaltNbQYbe pic.twitter.com/2BHy9GNnA6
— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) August 25, 2018
EL MAGOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Leading the way with 18 total votes, including at least one vote from eight different teams, Javy Baez solidly beat out Mike Trout (12), Mookie Betts (11), Jose Altuve (9) Aaron Judge (8), Bryce Harper (8), and the rest of Major League Baseball.
If you head over to Cut4, you can find out why so many youngsters like Baez – though I’m sure you can guess – and catch other videos for the other finalists, as well. It’s a very fun project, and yet another feather in the cap of baseball’s most exciting player.
