USA TODAY International Edition
Cubs’ All-Star Baez gets engaged
Shortstop is ready for new phase of life
While Major League Baseball players typically are among the most notorious bachelors, a gaggle are opting to start families before free agency and watch their children become grown-ups before they retire.
Cubs star shortstop Javier Baez, 25, is the latest, telling USA TODAY of his covert engagement to longtime girlfriend Irmarie Marquez on April 4; they plan to roll out their status officially this week.
“I’m so excited,” said Baez, who announced in January that he and Irmarie are expecting a boy, due July 4. “It’s a big part of your life having a kid at a young age, and teach them the right way to live, while seeing their parents grow up, too. I can’t wait.”
Baez is the latest young Cubs player to be removed from Chicago’s most eligible bachelor list. Third baseman Kris Bryant was married last year. First baseman Anthony Rizzo is getting married after the season. Catcher Willson Contreras announced his engagement in January.
“This is pretty special, man,” Baez said. “I’ve always been a real family guy. I grew up with my mom, dad, brothers and sister and all my cousins. I loved having my family around.
“It’s like it doesn’t matter what happens on the baseball field, your family is always there for you. That’s the most important thing for you in life. And now I’ll have my own wife and kids.”
Baez, who has known Irmarie since the seventh grade and started dating her six years later, says he always planned to marry her. They talked about it for years. Lived together in Chicago during the season and Puerto Rico in the winter. And a few months ago, started seriously planning for it.
He consulted with online jeweler JamesAllen.com and began designing his own engagement ring, unbeknownst to Irmarie, and finally received the modified ring at the end of spring training.
The Cubs, who had been on the road since spring training, finally stopped home for 24 hours during their 10-day trip between Cincinnati and Milwaukee. Baez and Irmarie spent that April 4 day in their apartment, and with Irmarie’s 27th birthday the following day, he decided it was time to pop the question.
“We had talked about getting married in the past,” Baez said, “but we always wanted to have our home and everything taken care of first. Now, with the blessing of this baby, I just felt this was the perfect time.
“Nobody knew about it. Nobody.” Baez sat patiently on the bed, waiting for her to come out of the shower, and then blurted out, “Happy Birthday.”
Irmarie looked around, saw nothing in the room, and wondered if Baez bought her a birthday present. Baez looked at her face, dropped to his knees, and nervously popped the question.
“She couldn’t stop crying,” Baez said. “Well, she started laughing at first, and then started crying and crying and crying. And then started laughing at the same time.
“When she said yes, we called her parents first. And then my mom and my brothers. We both started crying.”
Baez boarded the Cubs bus the next day, reached base four times in an 8-0 victory over the Brewers, got a Little League-style inside-the-park homer the following day when he hit a triple and Eric Sogard’s throwing error bounced off his head, and he’s proud to say his head has been spinning ever since.
“We’ll probably get married in December in Puerto Rico,” Baez said. “It won’t be a big wedding or anything. Just family and a few friends. That’s all we want, something quiet.”
For now, there’s a season to be played and a baby to be named.
“That’s the only thing we’ve been arguing about,” Baez said, laughing. “I’ve got a few names. She’s got a few ideas. But we haven’t decided yet. Hopefully, soon, but we got a few months yet.
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be a beautiful year.”