FSL1 Daytona Tortugas

2011 First Round Pick SS Javier Baez Added to Daytona Roster

Published on August 4, 2012 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


The Daytona Cubs announced, Saturday, that they have added shortstop Javier Baez, 19, to their roster, with Baez available for Saturday's 6:30p.m. game at Dunedin. The game can be heard live at daytonacubs.com or on AM1230 WSBB in Central Florida.

Baez, the Chicago Cubs Organizational Player of the Month for July, hit .333 (71-213) over 57 games with the Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League. The Toa Baja, Puerto Rico native also had 12 homeruns, 41 runs scored, 33 RBIs, 10 doubles, five triples, 20 stolen bases, and was only caught stealing three times.

Since joining the Chiefs on May 28, Baez boasted a slugging percentage of .596 with a .979 OPS. Over his time spent in the Midwest League, Baez led the league in slugging percentage, OPS and total bases, and ranked second in hits. He was third in homeruns, fourth in RBIs, batting average and extra-base hits and fifth in runs scored. Baez was also fifth in triples and seventh in stolen bases.

Baez recorded a .388 batting average against left-handed pitchers, hit .317 off righties and hit .368 in July. He collected a 16-game hit streak from July 4 - July 21, during which he hit .438 (28-64) with six homeruns, 13 runs scored and 13 RBIs.

Baez was drafted ninth overall by the Cubs in 2011 out of Arlington Country Day High School in Jacksonville, Florida. As a senior in 2011, Baez hit .771 with 22 homeruns over 115 plate appearances.

Saunders, 22, who joined Daytona on July 17 after hitting .493 with three homeruns and 17 RBIs in 17 games with the R-Mesa Cubs in the Arizona Rookie League, continued his hot hitting at the Advanced-A level. In 12 games with Daytona, he hit .310 with three doubles, four RBIs, eight runs, four steals and four walks.

Saunders has 15 multi-hit games in his 29 starts as a pro, including a 6-for-6 performance in his third-career game with Mesa on June 23.

The 22-year-old was selected in the 32nd round of the 2012 draft out of Marietta College, where he led the Pioneers to their second-straight Division III National Championship this past season. Saunders hit .441 during his senior year, leading the nation with 94 hits and 80 runs. He stole 41 bases in 47 tries and added 19 doubles, seven triples, five homeruns and 48 RBIs. Saunders was named a 2012 first team All-American and ABCA Mideast Region Player of the Year.

After a three-game series in Dunedin, the Daytona Cubs will return home on Tuesday, August 7 to begin a six-game homestand. The Cubs will take on the Lakeland Flying Tiger for three (Tues-Thurs) and the FSL North First Half Champion Dunedin Blue Jays for three (Fri-Sun). Tickets are on-sale now at daytonacubs.com, at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Box Office and by calling (386) 257-3172.

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Florida State League Stories from August 4, 2012


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