Javier Baez‘s importance to this Chicago Cubs team was never more evident than on Sunday night (although Tuesday night’s walk-off was pretty great, too). Baez showcased his other-worldly defensive wizardry with a bare-handed play on Nationals pitcher Jeremy Hellickson in the third inning. When Baez came up limp, it didn’t take long for his entire team to surround him, to check on the status of their star shortstop.
After Baez’s runner-up finish in last year’s National League MVP race, he hasn’t skipped a beat. In fact, he continues to improve.