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The two actually grew up less than 15 miles from each other on the island of Puerto Rico. They played baseball against each other growing up but by the age of 12, they separately were on their way to a new destination — the United States.
Both left Puerto Rico with minimal English-speaking skills but plenty of baseball skills which had high school coaches drooling to get the youngsters to their school. Baez ended up at Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville and Lindor attended Montverde Academy, which is about 170 miles south of where Baez played.
Being three hours away from each other meant that they spent the majority of their high school careers away from each other but both were very aware of what the other one was doing. It wasn’t until four months before the 2011 MLB draft that the two childhood friends would reunite on a baseball field.
Both Baez and Lindor put up video game type numbers in high school and every scout back then would have told you that they were the consensus top two middle infielders in the upcoming draft, although most scouts gave Lindor a slight edge.
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“In the end, what separated it for us, it was Francisco’s ability to play short, which is very hard to come by.” – Indians scouting director Brad Grant.
Both were invited to attend a top 100 showcase game which was held at Lindor’s high school, Montverde Academy. The game would be attended by over 100 MLB scouts who all had their eyes glued to the two flashiest players on the field.
And the two teenagers didn’t disappoint.
Both guys knew the magnitude of the showcase and the amount of scouts that were in attendance. Today they both kind of laugh at how big the showcase was but they also acknowledge it was a huge stage to play on as an 18-year-old.
“That was like a mini World Series,” said Baez.
How’s that for foreshadowing?
Five years after they played against each other in the “mini World Series” the two got to face off on an even bigger stage — the World Series. Lindor was one of the first players Baez texted after the Cubs defeated the Dodgers in the NLCS to set up their showdown in the 2016 World Series.
“He texted me after he won (the NLCS) saying, ‘Hey, man, is this a dream?’ ” Lindor said with a wide smile.
Fans got to see a quick glimpse of their bond during Game 1 of the World Series when the two were caught messing with each other after Lindor hit a double early in the series.
So much for being nervous huh?
The “dream” Baez was referring to had a better ending from his perspective as his Cubs went on to beat Lindor’s Indians four games to three which vaulted Baez forever into Cubs lore. Even Lindor acknowledged Baez’s ascension during the postseason.
“It doesn’t surprise me how he earned the spotlight. It doesn’t, because I’ve seen him since I was a little kid and he had the same swing, the same swag, the same fielding skills, and no matter where you put him, he’s going to step up and he’s a winner.”
It’s crystal clear that both players are winners and are the main reason why Puerto Rico is the most entertaining team to watch thus far in the WBC. Both embody the flash and swagger that Caribbean players have become famous for and both have the skills to make baseball fans from across the world shake their head and ask, “how’d he do that?”
The two youngster from Puerto Rico are playing the game today the exact same way they played it as kids — flashy.
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Lastly, I have no idea what they are drinking in Puerto Rico but whatever it is, it’s highly contaminated with swag. Every single thing these guys do looks way smoother and cooler than what the rest of us do.
I can’t wait to see how many time Javy brings that swagger to Wrigley this season.
