So much for regression.
Javy Baez is not only duplicating his 2018 MVP-caliber campaign, but he's actually improved upon it.
He hit another homer in Arizona during Friday night's 8-3 loss — a 446-foot shot and his 3rd longball in the last four games. He also singled in the contest, which marks his eighth multi-hit effort in the last 11 games.
Baez's homer was his 9th of the season in his team's 24th game, which makes him the first Cub to do that since Andre Dawson accomplished the same feat in 1987 (h/t Chris Kamka) when "The Hawk" won the National League MVP for a last-place Cubs team:
Javier Báez: first #Cubs player with 9 HR through the team's first 24 games of a season since Andre Dawson in 1987
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) April 27, 2019
It also puts Baez well ahead of Sammy Sosa's pace for each of Sosa's three 60-homer seasons:
Sammy Sosa through 24 games in his 60-HR seasons
1998: 5 (finished with 66)
1999: 5 (finished with 63)
2001: 7 (finished with 64)
Javier Báez hit his 9th tonight in game number 24.