CINCINNATI _ Kris Bryant's old friend Bryce Harper announced Friday he would participate in the Home Run Derby if he makes the National League All-Star team, as expected.
Bryant would like to see Cubs teammate Javier Baez join Harper next month in Washington.
"That would be fun," Bryant said.
With no clear-cut leader in the early going for NL Most Valuable Player, Bryant said Baez should be under consideration.
Of course, he would have to continue playing at his current pace and the Cubs would have to make the postseason.
"He definitely has taken a huge leap forward this year in all areas," Bryant said. "I thought that walk he worked (Thursday) with first base open to get to (Anthony Rizzo) was the best at-bat I'd ever seen him have.
"Just laying off some tough pitches, some balls in the dirt he didn't even flinch at. Working a real walk, which is something he's going to get better at. Absolutely I can see that (MVP) potential."
Baez entered the weekend ranked second among all second baseman in RBIs (48), slugging percentage (.537) and home runs (14). His all-around game is strong in baserunning and fielding, and of course no one is better at tagging.
Baez's only real drawback is plate discipline, with a low on-base percentage of .307 and only 12 walks to go with 66 strikeouts entering Friday's game.
Manager Joe Maddon said the walk Thursday in Cincinnati, when Baez was batting in the No. 3 hole, is an indication he's starting to figure things out.
"It's definitely a change because he would not have done that a month ago, or even two weeks ago," Maddon said. "He's doing a little bit better job of recognizing how important it is for him to stay off that (outside pitch), to accept his walks.
"The moment he arrives at that juncture _ and he's not going to be a walk machine by any means _ but if he just gets a little more open to that method there's no telling what he's going to do because he's so devastating when he puts the ball in play.
"But he has to make the pitchers throw more pitches that he can put in play, and it's just up to him. He and I had a great talk about this."
Maddon said he told Baez to "keep it full throttle" with less than two strikes but "downshift" it when he had two strikes on him.
"You're going to have to, otherwise you're not going to see what you want to see," Maddon said. "He's going to be all of that. I think we're just trying to expedite it. I want it to happen this year. I don't want to wait until 2019 or 2020. I want it to happen now.
"He's capable, and the moment it happens those RBIs are going to jump again and the home runs will be there. All kinds of mayhem because who is a better baserunner right now?"
