SPECULATOR: Searching for the next Javier Baez
Feb 13 2019
One of our favorite preseason exercises in this space is to take a breakout performance from the previous season, construct a pre-breakout profile of that player, and look for candidates who might pull off the same leap forward this year.
Our subject this year is Javier Báez (IF, CHC), who posted an amazing 2018 (34-111-.290-21 SB), fulfilling the broad-skilled upside he had teased us with for so long.
If we want to identify some candidates who look today like Baez did a year ago, we could use the following filters:
- age <= 27 (Baez broke out in his age-25 season, but we'll leave some wiggle room here)
- previous high R$ earned < $20
- projected PX 100 and projected Spd 100 (Baez was 129/105 in 2017, then 163/146 in 2018)
- to capture Baez' free-swinging ways, we'll slip a ct% < 76% filter in here as well.
Eyeballing that set of filters, you may not...
Almost!
You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
More From Speculator
Our annual exercise checking in on the MLB returns from this year's rookie class, and speculating on revised outlooks going forward.
Jul 30 2025 3:09am
Jul 30 2025 3:09am
QBaB scores have been integrated into the site this year, so let's take them for a spin.
Jul 23 2025 3:07am
Jul 23 2025 3:07am
They'll be entering uncharted workload territory come September, so it's best you develop some contingency plans ahead of time.
Jul 16 2025 3:09am
Jul 16 2025 3:09am
An annual exercise looking at players most likely to be traded, and more importantly, speculate on who might step in.
Jul 9 2025 3:06am
Jul 9 2025 3:06am
They weren't drafted early, but they've delivered. We'll name a speculative 1H All-Star Team and speculate on their second half.
Jul 2 2025 3:09am
Jul 2 2025 3:09am
