Birch: Light bulb going on for Javier Baez

Sometimes something just clicks for a baseball player. Sometimes the light bulb goes on and an athlete figures out what they need to do to be successful.

The bulb has been out for most of the season for Javier Baez, but it's started to flicker on as of late.

Baez has been a tear at the plate, hitting .342 (13-38) with four runs scored, a home run, eight RBI and four stolen bases in his last 10 games heading into Saturday night's contests. It's a Baez we never saw before last season. It's the Baez many fans had heard about, but never got to see.

Well, enjoy it. This is the player that crushed pitching on his way up to triple-A. Before their was Kris Bryant there was Javier Baez, once one of the biggest young names in baseball.

This is the guy that was supposed to be one of the saviors for the Chicago Cubs. This is the guy that once smashed four home runs in a Florida State League game in 2013.

We're now starting to see some of that.

During Iowa's Friday night win over the Nashville Sounds, Baez went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases to push his batting average up over .300 for the first time this season.

After the game, he was asked about the last time he felt this good at the plate.

"When I was in double-A," Baez said. "I haven't felt like that since I've been here."

Baez had never really looked fully comfortable at the plate. At times he had looked like he was guessing at pitches like a "The Price is Right" contestant waiting for a door prize to be revealed.

He looked like he had decided before the pitch came if he was going to swing or not. He chased pitches in the zone, quickly fell behind and was out before he stepped into the box some at-bats.

Not lately. Baez has become more patient. He's worked counts, hit good pitches and finally got results — more results than we've ever seen while he's been in Des Moines. It's not perfect, but it is better and that's a start.

Baez heated up at times last season, but never fully caught fire. Right now he could ignite at any moment.

Baez could revert back to his old ways, of course. We just don't know. But, here's what we do know: Baez appears to be a totally different man at the plate and on the field right now.

Off the field, he seems happier than he's ever been. He's been accommodating and helpful. He doesn't sulk when a reporter comes to him or head a different direction. He's embraced the attention and answered the tough questions. He could still sign more autographs, though.

And then there's the confidence. He's beaming, smiling and speaking with authority about his play.

"I think I found my swing," Baez said. "Well, I don't think, I know I found my swing."

Now, he just needs to make sure he doesn't lose it again.

Who knows what the future holds for Baez? With Bryant at third, Starlin Castro at shortstop, and Addison Russell at second, a change needs to be made if Baez's hot hitting is to be rewarded in the majors.

Could Bryant still move to the outfield? Baez has yet to play third. If Bryant does go to the outfield, do you move Russell or Castro to third and put Baez at short or second, both positions he's been playing at Iowa?

It's a lot of moving parts — maybe too much when you think about what's taking place in Chicago. Scouts around the park still say that Baez has plenty of trade value. He's not as valuable as he used to be, but someone may still be willing to give up an arm, but not the leg unless someone else is tossed in, for him.

But, right now, that's what the Cubs need — more arms.

There's still a lot of uncertainty and it's still a small sample size, but if Baez keeps hitting like this, he'll be back in the big leagues helping somebody.