When will the Cubs call up Javier Baez?
It's a question that has been asked basically since the start of the season when Joe Maddon lobbied for Baez to make the Opening Day roster and continued as Baez came back after his absence to deal with the death of his sister and then again after his finger injury earlier in the summer.
The Cubs are currently maneuvering through several injuries, including Jorge Soler's trip to the disabled list with an oblique injury.
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The team called up second baseman Tommy La Stella (who actually started at second on Opening Day) Monday to replace Soler's spot, but the question still remains on Baez.
The 22-year-old infielder is hitting .304/.372/.518 (.890 OPS) overall at Triple-A Iowa with 12 homers, 55 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 70 strikeouts in 62 games.
Baez has been especially hot lately, hitting .421 with a 1.003 OPS and eight RBI in his last eight games.
MLB
Major-league rosters expand in a week (Sept. 1) and Baez figures to be called up around then anyway, but he could be a boost for the team right now, too.
"He's doing really well," Maddon said before Monday's game. "The plan with him is just to continue to do well. Just because a guy starts doing well does not mean he has to be called up immediately.
"He's still learning his craft. I'm hearing he's getting better with his swing and his approach in his at-bats, which is all good.
"His time will be coming. But he's definitely on the radar screen."
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The Cubs are in the midst of a crucial stretch, matching up against a trio of aces this week (Corey Kluber, Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw) while trying to hold off the San Francisco Giants and catch the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League wild card race.
For now, Maddon will go with Chris Coghlan in Soler's spot in right field against right-handed pitchers while Tommy La Stella and Starlin Castro will figure in at second base.