The future is now in Chicago as Cubs promote Javier Baez

When Javier Baez launched a mammoth two-run home run well beyond the right-field fence at Target Field during last month's Futures Game, there was little doubt the 21-year-old shortstop with the prodigious power would soon ply his trade at baseball's highest level.

The potential lurking within the youngster's bat even piqued the interest of incumbent Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro, a man whose job Baez could very well contend for in the near future.

"Maybe this year," Castro told Cubs Insider of a possible promotion for Baez. "I don't know when, but he has to be here soon."

Castro's words proved rather prescient, as the Cubs confirmed Monday afternoon that Baez, who slugged a pair of home runs and drew a pair of walks for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs one evening ago, will join the major-league club on Tuesday night in Colorado.

Baez's arrival comes less than one month after the Cubs promoted fellow prospect Arismendy Alcantara, whose presence was supposed to be temporary - the 22-year-old was summoned when Darwin Barney went on paternity leave - but strong play compelled the Cubs to keep him around. 

Approaching the end of a painstaking rebuild, the Cubs also jettisoned both Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel last month, effectively signalling the impending arrival of the prospects with whom the organization's future - and really, its revival - is inextricably linked.

Baez's physical abilities have long elicited superlatives from talent evaluators, who rave about the young man's ferocious bat speed and preternatural power - tools that allowed Baez to reach the Pacific Coast League at just 21 years old. Throughout his hasty ascent up the developmental ladder, the shortstop displayed power more befitting a first baseman or corner outfielder, frankly. One year ago, Baez led all of Double-A with a .344 isolated power; this season, Baez launched 23 home runs while slugging .510 against pitchers five or six years his senior, many of whom boast major-league experience.

Despite Baez's physical abilities, expectations must be tempered for the young infielder, who lacks plate discipline and is seldom praised for his approach. For all his strengths, Baez still struck out in roughly 30 percent of his plate appearances this season and doesn't walk nearly as often as most scouts would like.

It also remains unclear how the Cubs will incorporate Baez into their lineup. Castro, who is under contract through at least 2019, remains ensconced at shortstop and Alcantara has settled nicely into second base in the absence of Barney, who was traded to the Dodgers last month. Baez has received just 16 professional starts at second base and has yet to log an inning at third, so the precocious infielder will likely find himself displaced (defensively, at least) in the major leagues.

Experienced arms could very well exploit Baez's hyper-aggressive approach at the plate, and the Puerto Rico native's first taste of major-league baseball could very well prove underwhelming. But his presence alone affirms that the future has arrived in Chicago, and with reinforcements (e.g. Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler) poised to arrive shortly, the future is sure going to be fun to watch.