April 23--PITTSBURGH -- Javier Baez will report Thursday to Mesa, Ariz., for extended spring training.
Baez, one of the Chicago Cubs' top prospects who was optioned to Triple-A Iowa, has been on bereavement leave the past two weeks. He left following the death of his 21-year-old sister Noely on April 8.
Baez, 22, was one of the final cuts of spring training despite playing the final two months of the 2014 season at second base, and the Cubs hope he will cut down on his prolific strikeout total.
