The Baez Breakthrough

The Cardinal Chronicle
The Baez Breakthrough
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

The early days of spring training often produce small storylines that quietly hint at larger developments down the road. For the St. Louis Cardinals, one of those storylines is unfolding in Jupiter, and it centers on a player whose potential has never been in doubt — only the consistency behind it.

Joshua Baez may technically be a holdover from the previous development regime, but his recent progress is quickly becoming a showcase example of the Cardinals’ expanded 70-person player development staff. After several seasons in which high strikeout totals overshadowed his elite raw power, the 22-year-old outfielder is beginning to show signs that the adjustments are finally taking hold.

The Power

Baez continued to turn heads this weekend, following up Friday’s towering 436-foot home run with another solo blast on Saturday against Mets ace Kodai Senga. The power has always been part of the package. When Baez connects, the ball travels with a different sound and a different trajectory than most hitters in the system.

What’s changing now is how often he’s getting into those power swings.

The Adjustment

Scouts watching workouts and games in Jupiter are noting a visible change in Baez’s approach at the plate. His pre-swing load has quieted considerably, allowing him to get into the hitting zone sooner and with better balance.

In the past, Baez often looked like he was trying to swing at the baseball. Now the swing looks smoother, more controlled — swinging through the ball instead of chasing it. The adjustment may appear subtle, but those small mechanical refinements can be the difference between raw power and productive power.

The Future

Few prospects in the Cardinals’ system can match Baez’s physical tools. With exit velocities regularly pushing beyond 110 mph, the raw strength has never been the question. The challenge has always been harnessing it consistently.

If the new approach holds when the minor league season begins — whether in Springfield or Memphis — Baez could quickly become one of the most intriguing power bats in the organization.

And if that happens, the Cardinals’ long-term outlook may benefit from a breakthrough that has been years in the making.

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