Switch-Mago? Javy doubles ... left-handed

September 26th, 2020

CHICAGO -- Sweet Swingin' Billy Williams is known as the greatest left-handed hitter in Cubs history. He had a gorgeous swing that led to one batting title and a plaque in the Hall of Fame.

But, Williams can't claim what has done from the lefty batter's box.

"He's hitting .500," Cubs catcher Willson Contreras quipped.

In the ninth inning of Friday's 10-0 blowout win over the White Sox, Báez roped a double while batting left-handed. As Contreras pointed out, that hit -- Báez's first as a lefty batter -- came in his second career attempt at taking his batting-practice routine into a Major League game.

Seeing Báez hit from the left side is a semi-regular occurrence in BP, as the shortstop has explained that it helps keep him loose. And on Friday night, when the White Sox sent infielder Yolmer Sánchez to the mound, it was a chance for Báez to try for his first career knock in the opposite box.

Sánchez worked to a 2-2 count, with the Cubs shortstop taking one floating pitch for a strike and swinging through another. After his whiff, Báez looked back at Yasmani Grandal and playfully patted him on the top of his catcher's mask. Then, Báez pulled a 59-mph pitch into the right-center-field gap.

Báez's teammates cheered from the visitors' dugout as he slowed into second base. The celebration was short-lived, however, when he lost track of the number of outs and was easily doubled off second following an infield popout from Billy Hamilton.

"I wish he would've known the outs," Cubs manager David Ross said with a laugh. "But, yeah, that was pretty good. I mean, when you're batting .500 in the big leagues left-handed and that's not your natural side, it's impressive."

On Aug. 8 last season, Báez also tried to take his left-handed swinging in the ninth inning of a blowout win over the Reds. On that occasion, he was also facing a position player, Kyle Farmer. The shortstop took a mighty hack on the first swing, but he flied out to center field.

This was one of many El Mago moments this season, including:

• Slapping a no-look tag on Kansas City's Adalberto Mondesi to catch him stealing on Aug. 3.

• Using some quick thinking to score from second base on a sacrifice fly to left field against the Brewers on Sept. 13.

• Screaming in celebration before throwing to first for the final out of Alec Mills' no-hitter, which was also on Sept. 13.

Scoring from first base on a steal attempt of second, with the help of a throwing error on Sept. 15 against Cleveland.

Reaching third base on a ground ball to shortstop on Sept. 16 -- once again with the help of a Cleveland throwing error.

• Driving in a run from third base with a two-out bunt single on Monday against the Pirates.

"Javy's a super talented guy. He just has fun out there," Contreras said.

During Friday's victory, Báez also launched one of the Cubs' five home runs, launching a Dylan Cease pitch deep into the left-field bleacher seats in the fourth inning. And Báez was not the only one having fun, as Contreras had a sky-scraping bat flip after his own homer in the third.

"We've been having fun," Báez said before Friday's game. "We have fun when we win, we have fun when we lose, when we struggle. Obviously when we win, it's fun. But, we try our best to get better and the results are going to come back."