Cubs Super Prospect Javier Baez Debuts With Game-Winning Homer

Javier Baez, the 21-year-old prospect that Cubs fans have been jonesing for all damn season, finally made is major-league debut last night. It took him 12 innings to record his first career hit, but it was a hit worth waiting for.

Baez came to bat in the top of the 12th inning, with the scored tied at five, and proceeded to hurt a baseball very badly. Boone Logan left a fastball right over the middle of the plate, and Baez whipped it over the fence in right-center. That put the Cubs up 6-5, and locked up the win.

Watching that homer, it's easy to see why Cubs fans are so excited about Baez. The dude has a big, violent swing and the kind of bat speed that evokes memories of Gary Sheffield. There's also the fact that Baez, who began as a shortstop prospect, can now slot in nicely at second base next to shortstop Starlin Castro, who is still only 24 years old himself. If the Cubs are ever going to get good, it will have a hell of a lot to do with that young and potentially dynamic middle infield.