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Why Javy Báez Taking More Called Third Strikes Could Be a Very Good Thing

Javy Báez is having another huge year so far in 2019, bashing 11 homers and slashing an impressive .323/.360/.627 through 38 games. All of his offensive numbers are actually ahead of the pace he set in 2018 when he finished second in NL MVP voting to Christian Yelich.

The dynamic shortstop is even walking more, drawing free passes in 5.8% of his plate appearances (12 total, 10 unintentional) so far this season. He had 29 walks in 606 PAs last year, just a 4.5% rate. But just as his bases on ball have gone up, so have his strikeouts, from 25.