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Javier Báez wasn’t wearing a Detroit Tigers uniform the last time he was playing this well.
The Tigers expected Báez to be a franchise cornerstone when they signed him to a six-year, $140-million contract prior to the 2022 season. Báez has not reached those expectations, relegating himself to a part-time shortstop role after hitting .184 over 289 plate appearances in 2024.
But things are looking different in 2025 so far. Through one month, Báez is having his best season in years.
Much of his resurgence has come from better production at the plate, where Báez has made significant changes to his approach and swing. He’s now setting up with a more closed stance, keeping his hands lower and away from his body before the pitch is thrown. And though it hasn’t translated to increased power, he’s been spraying more singles and currently sports a .296 batting average, second-highest on the team among Tigers with more than 75 plate appearances.
"I am seeing the ball pretty good right now," Báez said before a 7-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday in Detroit. "I am not hitting the ball as hard as I used to but I believe that it will get there."
At least it hadn't been translating into power before Wednesday, when Báez launched his first home run of the year, a third-inning grand slam against AJ Blubaugh to give the Tigers a 7-2 lead over the Houston Astros in an eventual 7-4 victory at Daikin Park in Houston.
"The first at-bat, I hit a ball pretty good and I just hit it straight up," Báez said postgame on the FanDuel Sports Network broadcast. "I knew that that pitch was coming again and he threw it to me. It was a good pitch. I was looking for it and I just tried to stay on top of it."
Part of that success can be explained by Báez cutting down on his most frustrating habit: swinging at pitches outside the zone. Báez has dropped his O-swing rate (the percentage of balls outside the strike zone a player swings at) from 47.7% in 2022 to 36.1% in 2025. That’s still high, with the league average just above 30%, but it shows the patience Báez has exercised with pitches.
WHAT WAS THAT? Kenta Maeda threw a pitch so bad it didn't even get tracked by Statcast
That has turned Báez from a bench warming bat to a significant lineup contributor. The righty has blown away his offensive measures from last season to this season, including batting average (.184 to .296), on-base percentage (.221 to .346), slugging percentage (.294 to .337) and walk rate (4.2% to 4.9%).
"By and large, it has been a good approach for Javy throughout the first part of the season," manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday. "I think the power is going to come."
That’s not to say Báez has returned to his All-Star form at the plate, however. He’s making the softest contact of his career, with his average exit velocity dipping from 88.3 mph in 2024 to 87.0 mph in 2025. He’s also hitting ground balls at a higher rate (52.7%) than he did last season, and has curiously increased his strikeout rate despite swinging less often at bad pitches.
Báez may be back to being a capable big-league hitter, but he’s far away from a fearsome one.
Thankfully for the Tigers, much of Báez’s contributions in 2025 have come away from the batter's box.
Despite being pushed away from shortstop by the younger Trey Sweeney, Báez has arguably been the club's most valuable fielder this season. According to Statcast, he’s in the 89th percentile among all major league fielders in Fielding Run Value — a catch-all metric measuring player defense — which is the best of any Tiger this year.
Báez has also done this work while splitting his time among third base, shortstop and center field — a position he had never played in the majors. But even at his newest home, Báez still recently produced one of the most impressive catches of the season against the San Diego Padres, making a difficult play look routine.
"Honestly enjoying it, trying not to mess it up out there," Báez said. "It’s not like I’ve been playing a lot out there but I feel good. I’m seeing the ball pretty good off the bat and taking good routes on the ball."
Playing in center provides so much value. Detroit is still awaiting the return of its everyday center fielder Parker Meadows, who is still on the 60-day IL with a nerve issue in his throwing shoulder suffered early in spring training. And with Opening Day center fielder Ryan Kreidler back in the minors after an unimpressive start and Riley Greene more comfortable in left field, Hinch has found a good emergency option.
Add it all together and Báez has been an above average player for the Tigers this season. Only two Tigers position players currently have more wins above replacement (WAR) than Baez's 0.8 in 2025 according to Baseball Reference: Zach McKinstry (1.5) and Spencer Torkelson (1.2).
That has Báez on track for his best season by WAR since he joined the Tigers, which is not something many Tigers fans expected after he put up a career-worst negative-1.1 WAR in 2024. Of course, even if he played a full season with his production at its current state, it still wouldn’t live up to the expectations of a nine-figure contract.
But considering how far the Tigers have watched Báez fall in Detroit, it must be refreshing for the team and fans to have some of the old Báez back.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Javy Báez on track for his best season in Detroit Tigers uniform
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The Tigers expected Báez to be a franchise cornerstone when they signed him to a six-year, $140-million contract prior to the 2022 season. Báez has not reached those expectations, relegating himself to a part-time shortstop role after hitting .184 over 289 plate appearances in 2024.
But things are looking different in 2025 so far. Through one month, Báez is having his best season in years.
Much of his resurgence has come from better production at the plate, where Báez has made significant changes to his approach and swing. He’s now setting up with a more closed stance, keeping his hands lower and away from his body before the pitch is thrown. And though it hasn’t translated to increased power, he’s been spraying more singles and currently sports a .296 batting average, second-highest on the team among Tigers with more than 75 plate appearances.
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"I am seeing the ball pretty good right now," Báez said before a 7-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday in Detroit. "I am not hitting the ball as hard as I used to but I believe that it will get there."
At least it hadn't been translating into power before Wednesday, when Báez launched his first home run of the year, a third-inning grand slam against AJ Blubaugh to give the Tigers a 7-2 lead over the Houston Astros in an eventual 7-4 victory at Daikin Park in Houston.
"The first at-bat, I hit a ball pretty good and I just hit it straight up," Báez said postgame on the FanDuel Sports Network broadcast. "I knew that that pitch was coming again and he threw it to me. It was a good pitch. I was looking for it and I just tried to stay on top of it."
Part of that success can be explained by Báez cutting down on his most frustrating habit: swinging at pitches outside the zone. Báez has dropped his O-swing rate (the percentage of balls outside the strike zone a player swings at) from 47.7% in 2022 to 36.1% in 2025. That’s still high, with the league average just above 30%, but it shows the patience Báez has exercised with pitches.
WHAT WAS THAT? Kenta Maeda threw a pitch so bad it didn't even get tracked by Statcast
You must be registered for see images
That has turned Báez from a bench warming bat to a significant lineup contributor. The righty has blown away his offensive measures from last season to this season, including batting average (.184 to .296), on-base percentage (.221 to .346), slugging percentage (.294 to .337) and walk rate (4.2% to 4.9%).
"By and large, it has been a good approach for Javy throughout the first part of the season," manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday. "I think the power is going to come."
That’s not to say Báez has returned to his All-Star form at the plate, however. He’s making the softest contact of his career, with his average exit velocity dipping from 88.3 mph in 2024 to 87.0 mph in 2025. He’s also hitting ground balls at a higher rate (52.7%) than he did last season, and has curiously increased his strikeout rate despite swinging less often at bad pitches.
Báez may be back to being a capable big-league hitter, but he’s far away from a fearsome one.
Thankfully for the Tigers, much of Báez’s contributions in 2025 have come away from the batter's box.
Despite being pushed away from shortstop by the younger Trey Sweeney, Báez has arguably been the club's most valuable fielder this season. According to Statcast, he’s in the 89th percentile among all major league fielders in Fielding Run Value — a catch-all metric measuring player defense — which is the best of any Tiger this year.
Báez has also done this work while splitting his time among third base, shortstop and center field — a position he had never played in the majors. But even at his newest home, Báez still recently produced one of the most impressive catches of the season against the San Diego Padres, making a difficult play look routine.
"Honestly enjoying it, trying not to mess it up out there," Báez said. "It’s not like I’ve been playing a lot out there but I feel good. I’m seeing the ball pretty good off the bat and taking good routes on the ball."
Playing in center provides so much value. Detroit is still awaiting the return of its everyday center fielder Parker Meadows, who is still on the 60-day IL with a nerve issue in his throwing shoulder suffered early in spring training. And with Opening Day center fielder Ryan Kreidler back in the minors after an unimpressive start and Riley Greene more comfortable in left field, Hinch has found a good emergency option.
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Add it all together and Báez has been an above average player for the Tigers this season. Only two Tigers position players currently have more wins above replacement (WAR) than Baez's 0.8 in 2025 according to Baseball Reference: Zach McKinstry (1.5) and Spencer Torkelson (1.2).
That has Báez on track for his best season by WAR since he joined the Tigers, which is not something many Tigers fans expected after he put up a career-worst negative-1.1 WAR in 2024. Of course, even if he played a full season with his production at its current state, it still wouldn’t live up to the expectations of a nine-figure contract.
But considering how far the Tigers have watched Báez fall in Detroit, it must be refreshing for the team and fans to have some of the old Báez back.
Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress).
Stay connected and stay informed. Become a Detroit Free Press subscriber.
Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online or in print.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Javy Báez on track for his best season in Detroit Tigers uniform
Continue reading...
