Baez settles back into spring grind after WBC

MESA, Ariz. — When Javy Baez returned from his every- day second- base role to his day job Saturday, he swore the Cubs’ super- utility gig wouldn’t be any less fulfilling.

Baez played second base exclusively for Puerto Rico’s second- place World Baseball Classic team, but he won’t have that luxury with the Cubs.

“I know I’m going to play a lot, so I’m relaxing,” said Baez, who doubled, flew out to the warning track and struck out Saturday in his first spring- training game since March 5. “[ The WBC was] really good for me to take some real [ at- bats] and to be in motion of a game.”

Baez will spend the rest of camp getting reacquainted with different positions, though manager Joe Maddon whittled those options down, for now, to shortstop and second base.

He has work to do. Baez’s error at short led to a Rockies run in the Cubs’ 7- 4 split- squad loss in Scottsdale. He dropped another throw that negated a likely double play.

Baez hit .345 with one homer and five RBI in the WBC and made two of the tournament’s most im- pressive plays. In the semifinal last week, Baez slid headfirst and used a swim move to avoid a tag.

While covering second base in Round 2 against the Dominican Republic, he pointed and celebrated a caught- stealing — while administering a no- look tag.

“I had so many [ phone] messages and so many videos about it,” he said.

Baez, who didn’t attend the celebratory parade in Puerto Rico this week, defended the team’s joyous style. The Cubs have never asked Baez to curb his flair, though Maddon has stressed with him the ability to make routine plays.

“This is a game,” Baez said. “It’s not as serious as a lot of people take it. Everybody’s got their style.”

Baez is proud of the effect the team had on the island. So many fans bleached their hair in support of the team, which had done the same, that Puerto Rico stores ran out of dye.

Soon, Baez’s yellow faux- hawk will be a memory, too.

“I’m going to cut it soon or dye it back black,” he said.