The Chicago Cubs last night selected high school infielder Javier Baez out of Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville , Fla. with the 9th overall pick in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
“Javier has a tremendously live bat, is versatile in the field and we are happy to welcome him to the Cubs organization,” said Tim Wilken, Cubs Director of Amateur and Professional Scouting. “He has a great arm and is a smart base-runner in tune with the game.
“Our scouts got to know Javier and are impressed by his make-up. We saw him catch, play third base and play shortstop. He’s a quiet and thoughtful young man off the field who lets his game speak for itself on the field.”
Baez, 18, was named by Baseball America as the best pure hitter among all high school eligible players in the draft. He was also ranked by Baseball America as the seventh-best overall position player and the fifth-best high school position player in the 2011 draft class.
The six-foot-one, 205-pounder batted .771 (64-for-83) with 20 doubles, six triples, 22 homers and 52 RBI in 115 plate appearances in leading Arlington Country Day to the National Association of Christian Athletics championship this past season. He also scored 46 runs, stole 28 bases and drew 32 walks compared to just three strikeouts.
Baez, who bats and throws right-handed, was named a 2011 Rawlings First Team Preseason All-American and a 2011 Rawlings First Team Florida All-Region selection. He committed to Jacksonville University.
The 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continues tomorrow with rounds 2-through-30 and concludes Wednesday with rounds 31-through-50. The Cubs’ next selection takes place tomorrow in the second round (68th overall).