Cubs’ Joe Maddon, Ben Zobrist agree: Javier Baez has grown as a player

7:25 PM ET

CINCINNATI — Most players would have stepped on the bag at third base and thrown to first for an easy double play, but not Chicago Cubs super-utility guy Javier Baez. He wanted it all.

“At the last second I tried to go to second for the triple play,” Baez explained on Saturday afternoon. “It was actually pretty close.”

The play came in the fifth inning on Friday night when Cincinnati Reds center fielder Tyler Holt hit a chopper to third with men on first and second and no outs. Baez, starting his first game of the season there, charged the ball, stepped on the bag, and surprised everyone by turning toward second. He threw a perfect strike to Ben Zobrist, who threw to Anthony Rizzo, missing the triple play by a step.

Along with his production, Javier Baez has impressed the Cubs with his maturity. AP Photo/John Minchillo

“He’s not a safe player,” Zobrist said as a compliment. “That’s what’s going to make him great. You get big rewards when you take big risks in this game.”

Manager Joe Maddon simply likes the 23-year-old Baez’s instincts along with his defense. Baez can play almost every position on the diamond and after being a big factor in the Cubs’ 8-1 win on Friday night, he got the start at third base again on Saturday, pushing NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant to left field for the second consecutive night.

“[Saturday], the way it’s set up defensively … looking at …

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