Levine: Javier Baez Can Win Second Base Job

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A new and hopefully improved Javier Baez was called up from the minors and immediately plugged into the Cubs' lineup Tuesday evening. After hitting .324 season marked by family tragedy and injury, the 22-year-old infielder will be with Chicago until the end of the regular season.

The Baez promotion was based on the expanded rosters of September, as well as a need for an everyday second baseman. Since Addison Russell was shifted to shortstop on Aug. 6, Starlin Castro and Chris Coghlan have been in a platoon at second.

"This was a good time," manager Joe Maddon said. "We are just trying to figure out matchups and what looks good. Talking to our guys (the front office), this seemed like a really good time to get him out there, so we will. He looks great, and he's been through a lot this year. His time has finally arrived to be up here. I am sure he is going to handle it properly."

Maddon was impressed by Baez so much in spring training that he made a strong push to convince the front office to take Baez with them when camp broke in early April. Maddon was overruled, due to Baez still not showing the use of all fields in his hitting approach.

"Keeping his approach under control and his front foot down, limiting or even eliminating the leg kick, has been a process for (Javier),"  Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "This was something that was gradual for him. At times, he fell back into the bigger leg kick, bigger swing and more violent approach. Gradually with time, he has become more consistent with his approach. The last week or so in Iowa it appeared to become second nature to him. We have seen results, which has been huge. We think he is in a good place and that he has earned way to come up and contribute to a winning team when he can."

Baez, -- who struck out 42 percent of the time in his two-month trial with the Cubs in 2014 -- believes he can help the team continue to win big games this fall.

"This has been a really tough year for me and my family," Baez said. "Because of my injury (broken finger), I was out for almost two months. All of that helped make me real patient."

Baez was prone to swinging from his heels and trying to pull everything, but he said his broken hand helped him learn how to regulate his swing, using the whole field.

"No one likes to be injured," he said. "It really did help me (cut down the swing). It is really helping now."

Baez was riding a 16-game hitting streak when called up. He had 13 home runs in 70 games played at Triple-A Iowa.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.