CHICAGO – Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon wasted no time in starting 2011 first-round pick Javier Baez after he was called up from Triple-A Iowa with three others on Tuesday. He played second and batted seventh in his first game since the end of last season.

“I’m seeing the ball really good and my approach is to right center,” Baez said before the game.

Baez ended his minor league season on a 16-game hitting streak and ironically credits a hand injury to some of his late-season success.

“I could only swing with one hand and I got my swing back,” Baez said. “Keeping the bat through the zone a little longer than it was.”

His playing time will simply be determined by his production. The Cubs have so many options now that if you’re not hitting you’re not going to get an extended stay in the starting lineup. The Cubs want to see if his altered approach translates to the major league level.

“Javy has put in a lot of work,” Cubs team president Theo Epstein said. “Keeping his front foot down, limiting or even eliminating the leg kick. It’s been a process. He didn’t always embrace it. Over time he’s become more consistent with it.”

Those are things to watch when he steps into the batter’s box. Is he leg kick and swing as pronounced as it was last season, when he struck out 95 times in 52 games? Will he cut down on his swing with two strikes?

“He’s smiling easily,” Maddon said. “His time is right to be up here. I’m sure he’ll handle it properly.”

Maddon likes everything about Baez’s game -- from his defense to baserunning -- but it will be plate discipline that makes the difference. The manager was asked if Baez could see a lot of playing time.

“Yes and no,” he answered. “I’m going to try and use everybody ... It's more to look at on a daily basis.”

After a tough season on and off the field for the 22-year-old it could be the hand injury that sparks his finish. He was asked if getting hurt actually helped him.

“No one wants to be injured, but I think it really did,” Baez said.