Cubs' Baez sent to extended spring training

Cubs prospect Javier Baez is expected to return to the team in Arizona at extended spring training Thursday after spending time with his family following the unexpected death of his sister earlier this month.

Baez, 22, was placed on the bereveament list on April 9 after his 21-year-old sister, Noely, passed away a day earlier. He's expected to play in a few games in Mesa before rejoining the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, although the organization has said there's no expectation of the shortstop rushing back to the field.

"From our perspective, we want him to take as much time as he felt was necessary," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said on Wednesday, according to CSN Chicago. "The kid was crushed by the moment. And we all grieve in different manners."

Noely Baez had suffered from spina bifida, which occurs when the spinal column does not fully close. It's the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States.

Baez spent much of the second half of 2014 in the Majors, appearing in 52 games with the Cubs at shortstop. He hit .169 and struck out 95 times in 213 at-bats but showed good power, hitting nine home runs. The 2011 first-round pick did not make Chicago's Opening Day roster out of Spring Trainging last month and had been assigned to Iowa to begin the year.

Players and coaches in Iowa reacted Thursday to the news that Baez would be returning soon.

"Hopefully he gets back and can kind of let this be his sanctuary a little bit," Iowa infielder Chris Valaika told Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register. "He's a huge player. He's a huge bat. Having him in the lineup's going to take a lot of pressure off a lot of other guys."

"Obviously with Javy in any lineup, it makes it totally different," Iowa hitting coach Bryan Harper told the newspaper. "There's a potential run with one swing. Javy will definitely help. He knows what he needs to do. It's not a secret what Javy needs to do to be a big league player."

Maddon reitterated a day earlier that the club looks forward to Baez's return, whenever the infielder is ready.

"I'm not one to -- in any way, shape or form -- try to attempt to say, 'Listen, it's about time you came back. The grieving time is over,'" Maddon said Wednesday, according to CSN Chicago. "I don't know his family setup, and I don't know how he was raised with that young lady. From my perspective, we just respect that process. And then when he comes back, we'll welcome him back openly."

Baez spent most of last season at Iowa, where he hit .260 with 23 homers, 80 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a .323 on-base percentage over 104 games in the Pacific Coast League.