Javy Báez: bringing the heat in the middle of the winter

On a frigid January day in Chicago, Javy Báez is bringing the heat.

When asked who is better between him and Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor, two of the game’s best young shortstops and good buddies from Puerto Rico, Báez laughed and quickly retorted.

“With the glove? They don’t touch me. Neither one of them,” he said.

“What do I do best? Field. I catch them all. We can do a ‘countdown.’ Oops, there’s a challenge for Correa and Lindor, even though I didn’t mean to say it,” said Báez, laughing again.

Báez, 25, was flashing midseason trash-talking form this past weekend at the Cubs Convention, the team’s annual winter fanfest in Chicago. He looked trim and relaxed, speaking to La Vida Baseball in Spanish for about 15 minutes. But make no mistake, he takes pride in his fielding.

“I want the ball to come to me on every pitch,” Báez said. “I want it hit my way every time. I’m already thinking about what I want to do. I always try to do the best I can on the field.”

Three magos

Returning to his two countrymen, Báez switched from jiving to giving both their due. He pointed out that Correa willingly moved to third base during last year’s World Baseball Classic, allowing Lindor to play short.

With Báez at second, #LosRubios had three magos (magicians) in the infield. Their combined wizardry helped Puerto Rico go undefeated until they lost in the finals to Team USA.

“It’s not easy to play third base from one day to another,” Báez said. “Both (Correa and Lindor) surprise me every day. Defensively and offensively. They both have range. Both have good arms. Frankly, they are identical. They each do certain things differently, but both are great ballplayers. I admire them both.”

Fielding is part of the baseball DNA in Puerto Rico. Some of the greatest defensive players were born on the island, setting a standard that every young boricua today tries to emulate.

Gold Glove Island

Roberto Clemente won 12 Gold Gloves, tied with Willie Mays for the most ever among outfielders.

Iván “Pudge” Rodriguez won 13, most among catchers. Yadier Molina is third with eight, behind Johnny Bench’s 10.

Roberto Alomar leads second basemen with 10.

And Víctor Pellot, aka Vic Power, won seven straight at first base, ranging far and wide, shifting on his own to snatch away hard-hit ground balls and line drives that otherwise would have been hits.

If Major League Baseball ever gets around to selecting an all-time defensive team, the right side of the diamond could easily come from Puerto Rico — Pudge, Pellot, Alomar and Clemente. Think about it — including Molina, that’s five players from the same island combining for 50 Gold Gloves.

Deception and footwork

Because he’s a full-time utility player who started at five different positions last year, Báez has yet to win a Gold Glove in four seasons.

Yet, few today are his equal when it comes to style points and pure instinct. Báez — a natural left-hander who bats and throws right-handed — said that he was taught early about deception and footwork.

“When I was 11, when I was playing second base and shortstop, one of my coaches told me when the runner tried to steal, to get to the base early and pretend that they weren’t throwing me the ball,” Báez said. “And then, at the last instant, drop the glove. Little by little, I got used to doing that, and got better and better at it.”

It worked to perfection during the WBC, when Báez applied the now famous no-look tag, nailing Nelson Cruz of the Dominican Republic when he attempted to steal second base. While Báez was tagging Cruz with his glove hand, he was looking right, straight at home plate, and pointing to catcher Molina.

Fearless

While some called it unnecessary showmanship, Báez has been consistent in his explanation. He said that he got caught up in the moment, with good reason.

“I pointed because when we do our warm-ups in between innings, and the catcher throws to second base, I’ll catch the ball and signal to him, ‘Good throw.’ I honestly wasn’t aware that I had done that until after the game when I got to see all the replays,” he said.

Old-timers like Max “Mako” Oliveras, 71, the winningest manager in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League, readily compare Báez’s mind-set to that of Hall of Famer Alomar, saying that Báez’s greatest gift is being fearless with his glove.

“No, I’m not afraid to fail,” Báez said. “I’ve failed so often that having to get up one more time means nothing to me. It’s just another thing I have to do in life. Clearly, there will be times that you fail, when you have your ups-and-downs. But it’s not about failing, but how you get back up,” Báez added.

Last season, Báez hit .273/.317/.480 in 145 games with 23 home runs and 75 RBI, both career highs. He also struck out 144 times — another career high. Báez is not afraid to take mighty hacks.

Not giving up tostones

Báez said that this winter he’s focused on working in the gym and the batting cage. Because the family moved to Florida in 2005, the year Báez turned 13, Hurricane María hasn’t affected his offseason as much as it has other players from Puerto Rico.

While helping with relief efforts, Báez said that he’s been able to rest more and stick to a routine, trying to “feel healthier and stronger.”

But don’t think for one moment that he’s eating less tostones and more salads.

“Oh, no, I’m not changing that,” Báez said, laughing. “I’m not good with diets. I eat what I want, fatty or not. Then it’s up to me to lose it.”

Báez’s good vibes were evident all weekend during Cubs Convention. He signed autographs. Walked the hallways. Mugged with kids.

“The fans here are extremely loyal,” Báez said. “They love us, love each player on the Chicago Cubs, because we wear the uniform, because people here are into sports. It’s not just baseball. They are crazy about many sports here. You got to respect that. There are many people (in this city), and that some of them follow you means a lot to me.”

Honoring a legacy

Last April 15, on the 75th anniversary of Hiram Bithorn’s debut with the Cubs as the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues, Báez posed for La Vida Baseball with a portrait of Bithorn. He was proud to be one of the latest links in a long lineage of extraordinary players.

Báez is too young to have seen in action pioneers like Clemente, Orlando Cepeda and Félix Mantilla or players from the following generation like Félix Millán, John “Candy Man” Candelaria and José “Cheo” Cruz. But ask him his favorite growing up and he doesn’t know where to start.

“They are many,” Báez said, laughing. “Iván Rodríguez. Roberto Alomar — for me, the best second baseman in history. Wow. Juan ‘Igor’ González. Carlos Delgado. You can mention 500 from Puerto Rico. And we’re a small island. Carlos Baerga. Shall I continue? I’m proud to be from Puerto Rico, a very special island for me.”

That’s Javy, bringing the heat in January.

Featured Image: Harry How / Getty Images Sport

Inset Images: Javy Báez Instagram