Love Letters From Pronk is an ongoing series where Pronk shares his love for somebody connected to the Cubs. Sometimes funny, sometimes weird, Pronk likes to make 100% sure people know that they are loved, and best expresses that through gushing letters. This week, we're featuring special Love Letters from other members of Cubs DNA staff to celebrate Valentine's Day!
Dear Ednel Javier Baez or as you are more commonly known as “El Mago”,
Today I’m writing to you to profess my love. I’ve loved you since October 13, 2015.
No that's not the day of your ESPN body issue debut. (BTW, for those looking for Javy Nekkids go ahead and click here.)
It's the day you replaced Addison Russell as starter in the NLDS. Addy had been injured the day before and you were just a September call up. THIS WAS YOUR CHANCE TO SHINE!! And shine you did!!!! You hit a 3 run home run in the 2nd inning and solidified a lead against pesky John Lackey and those Cardinals!
Up until this point we really didn't know what you could be! You were a leftover Jim Hendry first round draft pick. Many Cubs fans who think of themselves as armchair Thed replacements wanted to trade you! But then Thed traded away star short stop/second baseman Starlin Castro!! And it looked like maybe this was your shot! But, then Thed signed Ben Zobrist (who we love!) and Javy was out of a job again :(
But you persisted! Remember that time you made PINK LOOK GOOD??
I'm not sure if this was the actual start of the El Mago magic but it feels like it. If the Cubs are down in extra innings and need a walk off win, I'm hoping your at bat is next! After this magical Mother 's Day, you soon revealed yourself as a clutch player both defensively and offensively.
This all solidified during that iconic moment in the NLCS when you stole home!!!
This is why I love you so much Javy!! Because you always do the unexpected! You strike out a lot but then you hit homers on on balls that are so far out of the zone it makes no sense! You were an MVP candidate in 2018 with a 4.5% walk percentage and a 25.9% strike out percentage and we didn't care because you always made things happen. Sometimes it was the 21 stolen bases or sometimes it was the 31 homers or sometimes it was the crazy plays at SS or 2nd Base that no one else could pull off!
Back in September of 2016 I GOT TO MEET YOU!!!! I won a Twitter contest by Fanatics and they made me promise NOT TO GO UP AND SCREAM!!! I LOVE YOU JAVY SO MUCH!!!! AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! MARRY ME!!!
And I was on my best behavior. I was so nervous though and I got to ask you about #SnagandTag. This was a small grassroots effort some of us made to put your tagging abilities in the spotlight. This was before the Puerto Rican team where you no look tagged (and celebrated before the out was called!) or any of the El Mago magic. Player’s Weekend wasn’t even born until the next year, so we didn’t know your true name yet!
I think this Cubs video sums up my love and admiration the best! Swim tag javy vs #SnagAndTag Javy (still gonna try to make that hashtag happen lol!!).
All this baseball related stuff and I haven't even gotten to mention how sweet of a Dad you seem to be on your Instagram. It's very sweet and comforting to have a star Cubs player who is also a star Dad!
Thanks for being a great guy, an exciting player and I hope the Cubs decide to extend your contract!!!!
XOXO,
Brooke