No discomfort as Cubs’ Javier Baez returns to action at second base
MESA, Ariz.— Javier Baez quickly shook off any signs of rust Saturday at Sloan Park in his first game since suffering a left hamstring cramp on March 8.
Baez moved laterally with ease as he made a backhanded stop near second base and fired an accurate off-balance throw to retire Erik Gonzalez of the Indians in the third inning of a 5-1 split-squad loss to the Indians and he ran out of the batter's box without discomfort after singling in the bottom off the frame against Trevor Bauer.
Kris Bryant led another group of Cubs against the Indians on Saturday night in his hometown of Las Vegas.
"I feel great now," said Baez, who tested his leg running the bases before team workouts. "No more sugar drinks and a lot of water."
Baez attributed his cramp to poor hydration. He wanted to return sooner, but Cubs insisted he limit himself to a series of agility drills.
Assuming Baez feels well, he will start Sunday at shortstop against the Royals at Sloan Park, while the other group faces the Indians again in Las Vegas.
"I was fine with it," Baez said of moving to shortstop, his original position. "It gives me good arm strength, too, throwing from short."
But Baez has no intention of moving to short permanently, especially after working more cohesively with shortstop Addison Russell and an alteration in his throwing motion.
"We have great communication on the field, and he has been throwing the ball very well," Baez said. "He looks stronger now."
Baez will have more than a week to polish his skills with the comfort of getting a majority of the starts at second base.
"Last year I was trying to make a lot of adjustments in a short time, and now that I don't have that pressure of not knowing if I'm going to play (the next day) or not, it's going to help me a lot," Baez said.