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Javier Baez Admits Mistake Amid Comeback Season With Tigers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin M. Groe | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 9:32 AM ET

Javier Baez is currently playing in his fourth season as a Detroit Tiger and his 12th in the major leagues.

The 32-year-old veteran began his career with the Chicago Cubs in 2014 and played a key role in Chicago’s 2016 World Series championship.

His best seasons came in 2018 and 2019, when he made back-to-back All-Star teams. In 2018, he finished second in National League MVP voting and captured a Silver Slugger Award.

Midway through the 2021 season, Baez was traded to the New York Mets. That offseason, he signed a six-year, $140 million deal with Detroit amid high expectations that he’d anchor the Tigers’ infield for years to come.

Baez immediately struggled in Detroit, and by his third season, his deal was widely considered one of the worst contracts in baseball.

In 2025, however, he has recaptured much of his prime form while learning center field for the first time in his career.

Reflecting on his early struggles as a Tiger, Baez admitted, “To be honest, I kind of got away from work when I was feeling good, and then my body started bothering me a little bit.”

"Being back is different."#Tigers Javy Baez is returning to the MLB All-Star Game during his resurgent season in Detroit.

We caught up with Javy to chat about the All-Star honor and what's gone into putting together this bounce-back year.

@Local4News pic.twitter.com/MkLffhYP36
— Hobie Artigue (@HeyItsMeHobie) July 11, 2025

Last week, Baez earned his third career All-Star appearance. Through 77 games, he’s batting .276 with a .760 OPS—personal bests in Detroit—while hitting ten home runs and driving in 39 runs. His new defensive versatility has given the Tigers another option in the outfield.

Baez’s resurgence has fueled Detroit’s emergence as powerhouse this year. The Tigers currently have the best record in the American League at 59-35 and lead the AL Central by 13 games as the All-Star break approaches.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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