Professional Baseball A Dream Come True For Baez

BOSTON - “Any kid’s dream is to enter professional baseball and I’m glad to do it out of high school.”

That is the feeling Joshua Baez has after signing a pro contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 54th selection in the second round of this year’s MLB Draft was at 5 Tool Performance, where he works as a hitting instructor, watching his future unfold.

“They let me use the lobby area,” reflected the 2021 Dexter High School graduate about viewing the draft on television. “There was a couch, TV, family, closest friends and coaches there sitting around watching. I got a call from my agent three picks before that we had come to an agreement and that the Cardinals wanted to select me with pick 54.”

The celebration came soon after.

“I waited for three picks to go through and then I enjoyed the moment,” Baez said. “It was a really emotional moment. It was a big accomplishment for me and my family and a really big deal.”

Being taken in the draft was not unexpected by the top-ranked 2021 player in New England.

“They showed up at my high-school games along with 29 other teams,” Baez said about the Cardinals. “Literally 30 scouts were there at every game. They said they watched me in the spring and last summer with travel showcases, so they had an idea of my progress and the work I’d done.”

Deciding between a college commitment and turning pro - assuming the desired money was agreed upon - was not difficult, according to the 6-3 205-pound outfielder.

“Since I was nine-years-old my goal has been to play major league baseball,” related the PBR 2021 High School Player of the Year in the state of Massachusetts. “I can start at 21-years-old or at 18 right out of high school. I’ve always been a hard worker and more advanced than others, so I’ve been able to pass the eye test. I’ve been training to be mentally prepared to get this opportunity and take advantage of it. I’ve worked hard to make the best of it.”

Still, there was the matter of letting Vanderbilt know about his decision.

“I spoke to (Vandy head coach) Tim Corbin and explained the situation and how it turned out with my family and he understood,” Baez explained. “It was a tough situation for me, school versus starting my pro career. He understood everyone’s path is different.”

The 12th-rated 2021 outfielder in the country credits Christian Ortiz with helping it all happen.

“He’s been my coach and trained me since I was 13 with the Boston Blue Jays,” Baez said. “He has guided me through five years in the weight room, academically and nutritionally. He’s a big part of the journey and deserves much of the credit.”

Baez is currently at West Palm Beach getting a start on his pro career.

“I came down on the 18th (of July),” Baez related. “I went to Busch Stadium and signed the contract and then went to Palm Beach. I started playing there this week (first week of August). I’m just getting my feet wet starting pro ball.”

The plan is simple when it comes to the future.

“I just want to keep the momentum going all the way to MLB,” Baez said. “I know there are going to be obstacles and slumps, I just have to fight through them and try to be in the major leagues in two to three years.

“I’m going to be a sponge,” Baez added. “I want to learn as much as I can and when I get back to Boston pass it down to the kids to let them know it’s possible. If I can do this they can do it. I want to be motivation to them and let them know the way it is in pro ball.”