Javier Baez's sorcery was on full display for the past three weeks during the World Baseball Classic as he gave us some absolutely jaw-dropping moments. His outstanding play helped Team Puerto Rico finish second in the tournament and also earned him a spot on the WBC All-Tournament team.
As a Cubs fan, I almost expect Baez to do something special at any moment in a game that will amaze me (which he usually does) so to watch him amaze millions of fans on the global stage during the WBC was a pretty damn cool thing to see. If you were like the thousands of other fans who could have cared less about the WBC and chose not to watch, I've given you Javy's top 5 moments from the tournament.
5. Baez to Lindor Is Poetry In Motion
During the semi-final game of the WBC, the Puerto Rican team found themselves in a tight game with the Netherlands to earn a spot in the WBC championship game. WBC rules state that if a game goes to extra innings, the team at-bat gets to start the inning with runners on first and second. So in the top of the 11th, Puerto Rico intentionally walked a batter from the Netherlands to load the bases with only one out in the inning. Puerto Rican pitcher Edwin Diaz got Curt Smith to hit a slow roller to Baez who then started a inning-ending double play to end the threat. Puerto Rico would go on to win the game 4-3.4. Baez Robs Hosmer
During pool play, Team Puerto Rico faced off against the team that would eventually become the team that would hand them their only loss -- Team USA. In a game that would see Puerto Rico win 6-5 which resulted in them advancing to the elimination rounds, Baez was up to his old tricks when he robbed Royals star Eric Hosmer of a hit during the sixth inning of the game.3. Baez Throws A Frickin' "Lazer Beam"
It's hard for me to say that without thinking about Dr. Evil from "Austin Powers" but the throw Baez pulled off during the semi-finals of the WBC was an absolute lazer. With Puerto Rico holding a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Baez gunned down a runner that would have given the Netherlands the lead in the game.That throw was clocked at 89.6 mph which would have placed it as the third fastest relay throw in 2016. Insane.
2. Javy Goes Full Matrix Sliding Into Third Base
During the same semi-final game that saw him throw the aforementioned lazer beam to home plate, Baez dazzled fans by pulling off a matrix-esque slide in the fourth inning against the Netherlands.Slides that defy gravity are nothing new to Cubs fans as we've seen Javy pull off these same types of slides while he's playing with the Cubs. The one that will always stick out to me was during a game on June 18th against the Pirates. Baez was seemingly picked off of first base as he was caught taking off for second. The Pirates pitcher threw to first, Baez took off for second, and when the threw came in to throw him out, he pulled off a similar slide.
