A pitch is smacked deep in the hole between short and third and is all but certain to go for a base hit. Then Javy Baez flies into the picture to effortlessly vacuum up the baseball and flick a rocket to Anthony Rizzo to get the runner, flashing a coy smile as he does. It’s the type of talent and swagger rarely seen and leads some to think, “Hmmm, maybe Javy should play shortstop full time.”
Fortunately for the Cubs, Javy is not the lone defensive gymnast in the middle infield. His double-play partner, 23-year-old Addison Russell, makes similar jaw-dropping plays.