Prospect Check: Joshua Baez

[An Old Friend]

I think a lot of us likely have prospect fatigue with Joshua Baez... crazy that as a 2021 draftee, he's still just 21 years old. While only at High-A, the strides he's made this year provide quite a bit of optimism.

2024 in High-A:
.225/.306/.388
9.2% walk rate
37.3% strikeout rate

In 260 PA, he totaled 10 HR, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored, and 19 SB across 71 games

2025 in High-A:
.336/.420/.520
11.0% walk rate
20.7% strikeout rate

In 145 PA, he has 4 HR, 23 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 18 SB across 33 games... and gone absolutely bonkers in May. In just 14 games, he has 18 runs, 13 RBI, 11 SB, and is slashing .436/.523/.691

He's a big kid with plus speed and power... primarily playing RF. It'd be killer if the patience with him really starts to pay off. He's a toolshed full of talent, hope he can keep it rolling at the next level when they push him.

[Cranny]

I think a lot of us likely have prospect fatigue with Joshua Baez... crazy that as a 2021 draftee, he's still just 21 years old. While only at High-A, the strides he's made this year provide quite a bit of optimism.

2024 in High-A:
.225/.306/.388
9.2% walk rate
37.3% strikeout rate

In 260 PA, he totaled 10 HR, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored, and 19 SB across 71 games

2025 in High-A:
.336/.420/.520
11.0% walk rate
20.7% strikeout rate

Very high ceiling. If he's starting to catch on - Lookout!

In 145 PA, he has 4 HR, 23 RBI, 30 runs scored, and 18 SB across 33 games... and gone absolutely bonkers in May. In just 14 games, he has 18 runs, 13 RBI, 11 SB, and is slashing .436/.523/.691

He's a big kid with plus speed and power... primarily playing RF. It'd be killer if the patience with him really starts to pay off. He's a toolshed full of talent, hope he can keep it rolling at the next level when they push him.

[Futuregm2]

He’s looking much better. Love the contact he’s been making.

Just as a note

Joshua Baez
Age 22 season (2025)
A+: .336/.420/.520 145 PA 7 2B 2 3B 4 HR 16 BB-30 K

Chase Davis
Age 22 season (2024)
A+: .301/.388/.451 129 PA 6 2B 1 3B 3 HR 13 BB-29 K

His HRs from yesterday:

#1
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924878570100236307

#2
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924891871349735770

[Cranny]

He’s looking much better. Love the contact he’s been making.

Just as a note

Joshua Baez
Age 22 season (2025)
A+: .336/.420/.520 145 PA 7 2B 2 3B 4 HR 16 BB-30 K

Chase Davis
Age 22 season (2024)
A+: .301/.388/.451 129 PA 6 2B 1 3B 3 HR 13 BB-29 K

His HRs from yesterday:

#1
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924878570100236307

#2
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924891871349735770

Could Davis and Baez possibly replace Noot and Walker at the corners someday?

[craviduce]

Groundball /flyball rate change biggest contributor

2023 ~ GB rate ~ 31.5% ; FB rate ~ 45% ; K% 35%
2024 ~ GB rate ~ 30.9% ; FB rate ~ 49% ; K% 34%
2025 ~ GB rate ~ 42.4% ; FB rate ~ 38% ; K% 20.7%

Swing Change has been his best ally. Hopefully we get it dialed back a bit so we can get more line drives like we saw yesterday.


The change has been for the positive indeed. Again, I hope the line drive rate goes a bit up...it's stayed constant the last 2 years around 19-20%

[craviduce]

He’s looking much better. Love the contact he’s been making.

Just as a note

Joshua Baez
Age 22 season (2025)
A+: .336/.420/.520 145 PA 7 2B 2 3B 4 HR 16 BB-30 K

Chase Davis
Age 22 season (2024)
A+: .301/.388/.451 129 PA 6 2B 1 3B 3 HR 13 BB-29 K

His HRs from yesterday:

#1
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924878570100236307

#2
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924891871349735770

Could Davis and Baez possibly replace Noot and Walker at the corners someday?

"could"....anyone "could"....Will They? I don't know...there's several things that need to be fixed with both, but there's encouragement there.

careful with declarations/comparisons, Cranny. Your last with Davis/Lankford caused Davis's batting average to drop 110 points.

[3dender]

I had given up on him last year with that 37% k-rate... crazy improvement to drop it 17 points and yeah he's definitely a prospect again for me. I hope he can keep dominating for the next month or so and earn a call-up to AA in July.

[tyoung12290]

I am also guilty of speaking and cursing players. I mentioned Sequera the day he got destroyed last week. I try and keep my comments to myself now so I don't put that Juju out there

[hullie]

I won’t believe anything until Shady starts 37 posts about him.

[An Old Friend]

I won’t believe anything until Shady starts 37 posts about him.

This thread will prompt him to look him up.

In 2 weeks, he'll ponder whether he's passed everyone on the prospect list.

In July, he'll wonder if he should join Wetherholt in St. Louis for Opening Day 2026.

[craviduce]

I am also guilty of speaking and cursing players. I mentioned Sequera the day he got destroyed last week. I try and keep my comments to myself now so I don't put that Juju out there

we all do it. I was just messing with Cranny there.

[ramfandan]

Patience is sure the key . Most of us could use a lot more than we have . I know I sure can at times.

Was in elementary education and once I was at my dentist and he said to me , 'Dan, I don't think I would have the patience to be with 25-30 5th graders all day long. I said to him 'I don't think I would have the patience to have my hands in people's mouths all day either.'
His dental assistant chuckled along with the doc.

He then added, 'well teachers sure do have a lot of patience .. I replied, 'Well by the look of your parking lot outside when I arrived, you are doing quite well with the amount of 'patients' you have !
Had the dental assistant rolling on the floor busting a gut . He laughed too .

[Ace07]

Def has some upside, making positive improvements this year. Will be 22 next month, AA will be a good test for him. I'm sure we will see a promotion at some point this summer (hopefully).

[Monsieur De Treville]

He’s looking much better. Love the contact he’s been making.

Just as a note

Joshua Baez
Age 22 season (2025)
A+: .336/.420/.520 145 PA 7 2B 2 3B 4 HR 16 BB-30 K

Chase Davis
Age 22 season (2024)
A+: .301/.388/.451 129 PA 6 2B 1 3B 3 HR 13 BB-29 K

His HRs from yesterday:

#1
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924878570100236307

#2
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924891871349735770

Could Davis and Baez possibly replace Noot and Walker at the corners someday?

Anything is possible.

[ClassicO]

He’s looking much better. Love the contact he’s been making.

Just as a note

Joshua Baez
Age 22 season (2025)
A+: .336/.420/.520 145 PA 7 2B 2 3B 4 HR 16 BB-30 K

Chase Davis
Age 22 season (2024)
A+: .301/.388/.451 129 PA 6 2B 1 3B 3 HR 13 BB-29 K

His HRs from yesterday:

#1
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924878570100236307

#2
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924891871349735770

Could Davis and Baez possibly replace Noot and Walker at the corners someday?

Anything is possible.

I thought the warning was that A+ ball may not carry over, since Chase Davis at AA in 2025 has a slash of .254/.404/.369/.773 with 3 HR in 166 PAs.

[hugeCardfan]

He’s looking much better. Love the contact he’s been making.

Just as a note

Joshua Baez
Age 22 season (2025)
A+: .336/.420/.520 145 PA 7 2B 2 3B 4 HR 16 BB-30 K

Chase Davis
Age 22 season (2024)
A+: .301/.388/.451 129 PA 6 2B 1 3B 3 HR 13 BB-29 K

His HRs from yesterday:

#1
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924878570100236307

#2
https://x.com/peoriachiefs/status/1924891871349735770

Could Davis and Baez possibly replace Noot and Walker at the corners someday?

"could"....anyone "could"....Will They? I don't know...there's several things that need to be fixed with both, but there's encouragement there.

careful with declarations/comparisons, Cranny. Your last with Davis/Lankford caused Davis's batting average to drop 110 points.

So that's what that was.