Javier Baez is currently the ninth ranked prospect in all of baseball.  The future shortstop of the Chicago Cubs had a great spring training this year and certainly has a chance at being called up this season.  Between high class-a and AA last year, Baez .282 with an astonishing 37 homeruns, 111 RBI and 20 steals.  The power is legitimate as he shown ability to drive the ball at all levels of the minors and even hit five homeruns during this past spring training.  If there is one knock on Baez it is his extreme lack of discipline, as he struck out 147 times last season and only managed to walk 40 times.  This is a troubling trend that may make it difficult to Baez to bat for a high average when he finally does get called up to the majors.  This just means he may not be a .300 hitter as with his bat unbelievable bat speed he could certainly bat .275 or .280.

The timing of Baez’s call up is difficult to predict especially considering that the Cubs gave Starlin Castro an eight year $60 million contract.  If Baez is better able to hone his skills as a shortstop there is a chance that he gets called up this summer.  Castro has been sub par defensively, and it is possible that Baez will play short stop while Castro moves to second or the other way around.  With Baez’s track record he is certainly going to be forcing the Cubs hand sometime soon to get him into the majors.  Darwin Barney has been terrible offensively and if that trend continues it could only be a matter of time before Baez makes it to the majors as a second baseman instead of a short stop.  If Baez doesn’t make it to the majors in the summer he will certainly make it in August when rosters expand.

For now all you need to do is keep an eye on Baez and track his progress.  Once you read or hear that there’s a chance Baez is getting called up, you need to make sure you add him add him to your roster immediately because you will not want to miss out on this powerful short stop prospect.  However until you hear that he may be getting called up leave him in free agency as you don’t want to prematurely pick him and have a wasted roster spot.  If you add him now and he doesn’t get called up for another month and a half you will likely have done more harm than good to your team, so wait until there is confirmation of a near call up before adding him.