Javier Baez, 2B/SS, Chicago Cubs
This tweet about Baez is from earlier in the week, but it accurately describes just how good he’s been.
Javy Baez's now-.594 SLG is the best in the NL.
He also rates as the 3rd most valuable baserunner in the NL behind only Billy Hamilton & Trea Turner.
The best slugger in the league is also one of the best baserunners.
Oh, he also plays stellar D at multiple positions.#MVP
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) August 7, 2018
Nobody is swinging the bat more often than Baez, as his 60.8% swing rate leads all qualified hitters. However, it’s important to note that only two others (Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies) have offered at more pitches in the strike zone.
Baez is doing that at an 80.4% clip, which continues what will be a three-year upward trend by the end of September (67.9% in ’16, 72.6% in ’17), along with his hard-hit rate (29.1% in ’16, 32.4% in ’17, 39.4% in ’18). It doesn’t hurt that his 83.0% contact rate in this situation is flirting with career-high marks, too.
This is setting him up to finish the year with a wRC+ above 98 for the first time as a major leaguer. And with that number currently sitting at 139, he’s on pace to crush it.
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