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What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 09:54 am What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

Not a minor league expert. So won’t pretend to know the kind of player he is. But you don’t see many talking about his speed like they did with say Victor Scott and Winn. So I wouldn’t think he has that “elite” speed. However you don’t steal 50+ bases on great reads/jumps alone. Pujols was great at both but couldn’t even sniff 20. Granted he was slow as molasses but couldn’t also get a steal when needed. So my guess is Baez has a nice healthy mixture of both speed and knowledge on the base path. Could translate into 30+ in the majors with 25 hr power

Banner29 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:03 am

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 09:54 am What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

Not a minor league expert. So won’t pretend to know the kind of player he is. But you don’t see many talking about his speed like they did with say Victor Scott and Winn. So I wouldn’t think he has that “elite” speed. However you don’t steal 50+ bases on great reads/jumps alone. Pujols was great at both but couldn’t even sniff 20. Granted he was slow as molasses but couldn’t also get a steal when needed. So my guess is Baez has a nice healthy mixture of both speed and knowledge on the base path. Could translate into 30+ in the majors with 25 hr power

Pujols had 2 seasons where he stole 16 and another where he stole 14, so 20 wouldn’t have been out of the question. Heck, even Goldy stole 30+

Red7 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:07 am

Banner29 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:03 am

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 09:54 am What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

Not a minor league expert. So won’t pretend to know the kind of player he is. But you don’t see many talking about his speed like they did with say Victor Scott and Winn. So I wouldn’t think he has that “elite” speed. However you don’t steal 50+ bases on great reads/jumps alone. Pujols was great at both but couldn’t even sniff 20. Granted he was slow as molasses but couldn’t also get a steal when needed. So my guess is Baez has a nice healthy mixture of both speed and knowledge on the base path. Could translate into 30+ in the majors with 25 hr power

Pujols had 2 seasons where he stole 16 and another where he stole 14, so 20 wouldn’t have been out of the question. Heck, even Goldy stole 30+

Goldy was not slow.

By all reports Baez has played a respectful CF in the recent past... not sure how likely that is to translate to MLB but it's not nothin'.

3dender wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:27 am By all reports Baez has played a respectful CF in the recent past... not sure how likely that is to translate to MLB but it's not nothin'.

*respectable

But he also respects the heck out of that patch of grass

Whether or not Baez can actually steal MLB bases, he sure has the mindset for it, which is a good sign. In my mind it shows a winning mentality, like Pujols, and Molina, had. That's what you want. His good speed and defense probably would allow him to stay at CF, or, at least platoon CF with RF. But, his arm is so good that he will probably end up in RF. I would guess RF as his major destination, with CF always a more offense option for the line-up. That would have Donovan in RF, Burleson in LF, and Baez in CF. Normally it would be a defensive OF of Donovan LF, VSII/Church CF, and Baez RF. I believe Walker's time is short to "figure it out", as Baez will be knocking on the MLB door sometime next season.

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 11:31 am Whether or not Baez can actually steal MLB bases, he sure has the mindset for it, which is a good sign. In my mind it shows a winning mentality, like Pujols, and Molina, had. That's what you want. His good speed and defense probably would allow him to stay at CF, or, at least platoon CF with RF. But, his arm is so good that he will probably end up in RF. I would guess RF as his major destination, with CF always a more offense option for the line-up. That would have Donovan in RF, Burleson in LF, and Baez in CF. Normally it would be a defensive OF of Donovan LF, VSII/Church CF, and Baez RF. I believe Walker's time is short to "figure it out", as Baez will be knocking on the MLB door sometime next season.

Thank you

Banner29 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:03 am

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 09:54 am What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

Not a minor league expert. So won’t pretend to know the kind of player he is. But you don’t see many talking about his speed like they did with say Victor Scott and Winn. So I wouldn’t think he has that “elite” speed. However you don’t steal 50+ bases on great reads/jumps alone. Pujols was great at both but couldn’t even sniff 20. Granted he was slow as molasses but couldn’t also get a steal when needed. So my guess is Baez has a nice healthy mixture of both speed and knowledge on the base path. Could translate into 30+ in the majors with 25 hr power

Best poster to ask is 'duce in one of his GDT's.

Have seen him play a couple times. He hit it hard somewhere most every at bat. Maybe a future. Maybe not. Early look is good

STL needs to take a long look at him as a CF as he continues to move through the system.

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:17 am

Red7 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:07 am

Banner29 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:03 am

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 09:54 am What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

Not a minor league expert. So won’t pretend to know the kind of player he is. But you don’t see many talking about his speed like they did with say Victor Scott and Winn. So I wouldn’t think he has that “elite” speed. However you don’t steal 50+ bases on great reads/jumps alone. Pujols was great at both but couldn’t even sniff 20. Granted he was slow as molasses but couldn’t also get a steal when needed. So my guess is Baez has a nice healthy mixture of both speed and knowledge on the base path. Could translate into 30+ in the majors with 25 hr power

Pujols had 2 seasons where he stole 16 and another where he stole 14, so 20 wouldn’t have been out of the question. Heck, even Goldy stole 30+

Goldy was not slow.

I think that you'd have to go back prior to 2019, Cards time, for him to be faster than
the average of 27 ft/sec. True not slow, but below average player.

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 09:54 am What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

From what i have read he actually is only an average speed runner who has outperformed his speed with great jumps and reads on the pitcher. With average speed(albeit good instincts) and having a bigger frame, i dont think hes projected as a centerfielder. What i have reads has said the same that although he isbgetting looks at cf, he projects as a rightfielder and that he has a cannon for an arm. Maybe he can backup the position occasionally like nootbar but i dont think cf is a long term fit for him as a starter.

He has good power but struggled in the early minors in chase rates andnstrikeouts but has improved both his chase rate and contact percentage in 2025. Hopefully that holds as he ascemds to AAA and the majors.

Banner29 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:03 am

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 09:54 am What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

Not a minor league expert. So won’t pretend to know the kind of player he is. But you don’t see many talking about his speed like they did with say Victor Scott and Winn. So I wouldn’t think he has that “elite” speed. However you don’t steal 50+ bases on great reads/jumps alone. Pujols was great at both but couldn’t even sniff 20. Granted he was slow as molasses but couldn’t also get a steal when needed. So my guess is Baez has a nice healthy mixture of both speed and knowledge on the base path. Could translate into 30+ in the majors with 25 hr power

Supposedly, the minor league report says hes average tp above average speed but has outperformed his wheels in stolen bases by picking his spots. Makes me think hes more a right fielder as hes said to have a cannon for an arm.

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:17 am

Red7 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:07 am

Banner29 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:03 am

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 09:54 am What a great season he is putting together at just 22 years old.

His OBP and stolen bases really stick out to me.

A question for the board minor league experts. Does he have elite type speed, or is he just good at reading pitchers and getting jumps? How is his outfield defense? Can he handle CF?

Thanks in advance.

Not a minor league expert. So won’t pretend to know the kind of player he is. But you don’t see many talking about his speed like they did with say Victor Scott and Winn. So I wouldn’t think he has that “elite” speed. However you don’t steal 50+ bases on great reads/jumps alone. Pujols was great at both but couldn’t even sniff 20. Granted he was slow as molasses but couldn’t also get a steal when needed. So my guess is Baez has a nice healthy mixture of both speed and knowledge on the base path. Could translate into 30+ in the majors with 25 hr power

Pujols had 2 seasons where he stole 16 and another where he stole 14, so 20 wouldn’t have been out of the question. Heck, even Goldy stole 30+

Goldy was not slow.

Goldy
Since sprint speed was first tracked in 2016, goldy was only slightly above the mlb avg of 27.0 twice in 2 of the forst 3 years it was trscked before being slightly below avg in the 26+ but sub 27 range the rest of his career. Now he probably was still above avg the few years of his career before it was tracked as well in his esrly 20s since he still was a couple years in hisnlate 20s whem it started getting tracked, but he was never a speedster.

I have the MiLB package and have watched him a lot. He has well-above-average speed. He plays a good CF with that speed and a cannon arm.
He has all five tools; he just needs to continue to progress. I've been impressed with how his K-rate has gone down significantly and his walk rate has gone up.
He finished the year on a hot streak - for 2 months! .293/.389/.507/.896 in August and .308/.413/.615/1.028 for September. https://www.milb.com/player/joshua-baez ... &year=2025

As you can see from this video, he has a great pop-up slide he often uses, and it allows him to go very fast into bases with it.

https://www.mlb.com/video/cardinals-no- ... ideo-share

His power is real (114 mph - 450 feet) -- https://youtube.com/shorts/g_gJUaNXV5s? ... kH9lscwzdC

combined videos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMTkEpZbR3k
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iOP51toStso