Javier Báez Has Special Night With Detroit Tigers, Reaches 10 Years Of MLB Service

As the Tigers defeated the Pirates 7-3, Báez led the way with a 3-for-4 night, including two home runs, two RBIs, two runs, a single and one strikeout. A big night at the plate and reaching a career milestone made for a special game for Báez, who also homered in his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2014.

"It feels great to be here,” Báez said, per an article on MLB.com. “Been a long way, a lot of ups and downs. In this game, there are a lot of ups and downs. I’ve been down many times; never [let it] get [in] my head. I kept working, and I’ll keep working 'til the last day. ... I’m honestly impressed with the way I’m still doing this; I feel blessed. My kids are big baseball fans, and I have to do the best for them.”

Desptie being a two-time All-Star with the Cubs in 2018 and 2019, Báez's tenure with the Tigers got off to a slow start. After signing a six-year, $140-million contract going into the 2022 season, he was worth just 2.1 wins above replacement in his first three seasons in Detroit, per Fan Graphs.

But he's having a career resurgence in 2025. Through 222 plate appearances, Báez is slashing .289/.324/.474 with nine home runs, 39 RBIs and 22.1% strikeout rate, the lowest of his career. He's a big reason why the Tigers have the best record in MLB at 47-27 and a 9.5-game lead in the AL Central.