Injured Detroit Tigers SS Javier Báez began hitting drills in recovery.
Javier Báez, the Detroit Tigers shortstop, has been cleared for baseball activity.
The 31-year-old, who hasn’t played since June 8 due to a lower back injury, did light hitting drills Tuesday in Lakeland, Florida, home of the Tigers’ spring training facility, as part of his return-to-play plan. He will return to Lakeland on Wednesday for fielding practice.
“That was the plan all along,” manager A.J. Hinch stated before Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. “That is a terrific beginning step towards being more active. It’s just a matter of putting some building pieces together to get him back to playing baseball, which is great.”
FOR THE FAM: Tigers’ Reese Olson bounces back and gives family and friends a show at homecoming.
The Tigers placed Báez on the disabled list on June 11, retroactive to June 9, due to lumbar spine irritation. The 11-year MLB veteran had an injection last Friday to alleviate a lower back problem that had persisted for several seasons. The Tigers have not provided a date for his comeback, but Báez appears to have escaped long-term injury.
When Báez was placed on the injured list, he pondered returning for the second half of the season. The Tigers’ halfway point is June 27, while the All-Star Game is July 16.
The Tigers rely on Báez’s defence.
The shortstop situation is bigger than you believe.
In Báez’s absence, fellow infielders Ryan Kreidler and Zach McKinstry have taken over at shortstop, but Kreidler, in particular, has struggled on defence, making many errors in the last week.
Kreidler, 26, is hitting.167 (2-for-12) with two walks and four strikeouts in six games; McKinstry, 29, is batting.In 48 games, he went 183 (20 for 109), walked 10, and struck out 33 times.
Báez is hitting.183 (34-for-186) with one home run, six walks, and 42 strikeouts in 53 games (196 plate appearances). He has minus-4 defensive runs saved and minus-3 outs over average, yet he is by and away the most fundamentally good defender in the infield.
“He’s a veteran guy who has played in every situation,” Hinch said about Báez’s defence. “The good version of him is extremely competitive on a daily basis, particularly on defence, but we don’t have him.” I don’t spend much time worrying about what might have been if he wasn’t here. We can make the plays while he is away and becoming better.”
Báez will earn $25 million this season and $73 million in 2025-27 as part of a six-year, $140 million contract signed with the Tigers in December 2021.
