Just when fans — and maybe even the front office — thought Javier Baez’s best days were behind him, the Detroit Tigers slugger has pulled off a comeback that’s lighting up the 2025 MLB season. After a rough couple of years and hip surgery that cast serious doubt on his future, Baez is silencing critics in the loudest way possible: by producing.
Now hitting .275 with a .305 OBP, .429 slugging, 6 home runs, and 30 RBIs, Baez is looking more like the two-time All-Star the Tigers hoped for when they inked him to that massive deal. He’s already notched a 1.2 WAR this season — a massive leap from the -1.1 he posted just last year.
What’s even more surprising? He’s doing it in center field. Originally signed as a shortstop, Baez has adjusted to the outfield like a seasoned pro, holding his own defensively and proving his versatility when the team needed it most.
This resurgence couldn’t have come at a better time. After overachieving last season, Detroit came into 2025 with serious expectations — and Baez’s performance is helping them meet and even exceed those. He’s gone from a potential roster liability to one of the Tigers’ most valuable contributors.
For a player many had written off, Baez is rewriting the narrative. His bat is alive, his glove is dependable, and his presence in the lineup is giving the Tigers an extra edge as they chase an October run.
This isn’t just a return — it’s a redemption arc. And if he keeps this up, Baez might just be the spark that takes Detroit all the way.
