New Baseball America story on Josh Baez

[ClassicO]

I know I’m posting too much about Baez, but today’s story (subscription only) has some good stuff:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... r-in-2025/

“A big league debut next summer isn’t out of the question if he sustains his improved plate skills.”

It says that last season he was hitting .225/.306/.388 with a 37.3% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate across 71 games for High-A Peoria. At that point, the organization put him on the Development List, removing him from the team to work on skills.

“That’s when Baez made a career-altering change. Baez used his four weeks on the Development List to his advantage, altering his swing and getting more upright in his setup. The changes worked. Upon returning to play, Baez identified balls and strikes with greater proficiency and was also more consistently on time with the barrel.”

In only 15 games after his return last year, Baez slashed .340/.459/.500 while cutting his strikeout rate to 27.9% and upping his walk rate to 13.1%.

And then there’s this year where he’s continued to improve the K-rate (20% in the last 36 games) and BB rate and is the best player on Springfield’s roster.
In a nice combo of stats - his “miss %” has improved dramatically from 43.2% in 2023 to 27.5% in 2025, while his hard-hit rate has improved from 40% to 47%. Missing the ball far less and hitting it harder. And his chase rate has gone down from 29% to 22%.

Pretty impressive. I watch the majority of his ABs on MiLB.com and he’s a different batter this year. And yeah, 46 steals and stellar defense (some in CF).

[Absolut]

Can we put Walker on the development list?

[Basil Shabazz]

This kid is uber talented and his work ethic has been documented since his high school days. He was committed to Vandy before the Cards drafted him and he opted for professional baseball.

Could be the outfield lottery ticket that we desperately need

[Othawhitemeat]

This kid is uber talented and his work ethic has been documented since his high school days. He was committed to Vandy before the Cards drafted him and he opted for professional baseball.

Could be the outfield lottery ticket that we desperately need

Def agree and especially at center from offense side

[ClassicO]

Can we put Walker on the development list?

And Gorman. And Scott. And ...

[craviduce]

his tendencies changed this year....the swing is different in the zone. I don't know the exact lingo/jargon...but I brought this up in May while looking at his splits/stats since 2021.....his Ground Ball % was up this year in Peoria, the Fly Ball Rate was significantly down. Maybe this is/was caused by the Stance Change...being "more upright", I believe BA says

whatever he did, resurrected a career that was going the way of Fletcher. Good on him.

Keep him Corner OF...let's bury the CF claims that so many in the instant gratification crowd love to cling to. "He played it in the Palm Beach, he "MUST" be a great CF" There's better CF options. Keep Josh in RF/LF.

[Banner29]

He might be my favorite prospect not named JJ Wetherholt. The speed and power is there, if he can keep developing the way he is he will be a fan favorite in this lineup. A Tommy Pham type player(minus the attitude)

[82birds]

Can we put Walker on the development list?

LOL