Javy Baez is boosting his NL MVP résumé on Thursday night. The Chicago Cubs’ infielder is 2-for-4 with a home run, double, and stolen base in the team’s game against the Cincinnati Reds (it’s only the 7th inning as I write this, so he may do more damage).
And the home run was absolutely destroyed.
Statcast measured the homer at 481 feet, and if anything that estimation may be short. The ball cleared the back of the bleachers in left-center field (closer to CF than LF), into territory that I can’t even remember Sammy Sosa hitting one. The Wrigley Field bleachers have also grown in the last few years.
Just watch. pic.twitter.com/nGU357Vd8i
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 24, 2018
Javier Baez (47) off RHP Anthony DeSclafani (16) – 110.5 mph, 30 degrees (481 ft Home Run)
86.1 mph Slider#Reds @ #Cubs (B3) pic.twitter.com/ezYQ4nIgdA— MLBBarrelAlert (@MLBBarrelAlert) August 24, 2018
Javier Báez's 3rd inning home run traveled 481 feet, per Statcast.
Only Franchy Cordero (489') has hit a farther home run in MLB this season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/Rich_Siegel/status/1032792804584550402
“El Mago” also showed off his tremendous defense with this catch to end the top of the seventh:
Javy's not just making magic happen with his bat tonight…
STREAM for more #AuthenticFan action at https://t.co/M2MlPTOYL1 pic.twitter.com/3lhzIuTZcY
— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) August 24, 2018