When I did our off-day check-in yesterday (spoilers: things are looking good), I picked Anthony Rizzo as the “standout” offensive performer of this recent stretch, because, well, he’s been really good. HOWEVER, I think I needed to be more mindful of my choice in words.
While I was saying Anthony Rizzo’s performance was particularly noteworthy – and for very specific, obviously good reasons – I didn’t mean I thought he was the best (let alone only) standout performer of this stretch, because, frankly, Javier Baez (among others) has been an absolute machine.
We’re only a month into the 2019 season, but I’m no longer really concerned that Baez’s breakout 2018 campaign was just some one-off fluke. He may not perform at these MVP levels throughout the entire season, but … he sure is so far.
Through 28 games and 128 plate appearances, Baez is slashing .314/.352/.653 (158 wRC+), and has already been worth 1.6 WAR (6th most in MLB). He’s an absolute stud at the plate, on the field, and, as it turns out, possibly the best base runner in baseball, so here’s a mish-mash of some random and unrelated love for the Cubs standout performer of the year.
Javier Baez has 10 home runs, 24 RBIs, and 25 runs scored in 28 games this season. The only other Cubs over the last 60 years with that many homers, RBIs, and runs within the team’s first 30 games of a season are Sammy Sosa in 2001 (10/28/26) and Anthony Rizzo in 2016 (10/28/26).
— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) May 2, 2019
Just here to remind you that Javy Baez is doing what he's doing to start the season with:
-Contact/K rates better than his career average
-A slightly above his career average walk rate
-Only slightly elevated BABIPPLUS, he's hitting the ball WAY harder than he ever has before
— WhoCanIJinxNext?CountTommy (@FullCountTommy) May 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/MATrueblood/status/1123956622198493191
When god made Javy Baez …. (audio on) pic.twitter.com/Hwz9Mlp5HC
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) May 2, 2019