AJ Hinch revealing key to Javy Báez’s resurgence will make Tigers fans love him more

The Detroit Tigers have been one of the best stories in baseball this year, and they are currently tied with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball.

Several members of the Tigers' roster have had stellar individual performances this year to help them get to this point (and they have one of the best managers in the modern era in AJ Hinch), but one player's resurgent season has stood out among the rest.

Javier Báez had such an abysmal start to his tenure in Detroit that many suspected his career may be over. After slashing .184/.221/.294 and registering -1.1 bWAR in 80 games last season while being the highest-paid player on the Tigers roster, the veteran shortstop had all but solidified his status as public enemy number one in the Motor City.

Báez's turnaround in 2025, however, has bordered on miraculous. Not only has he excelled at the plate, but he has also been a Swiss army knife in the field, logging time at second base, third base, shortstop and center field – a position he had never played before in his 11-year MLB career and for which he is now an All-Star finalist.

AJ Hinch reveals what’s behind Javy Báez’s resurgent season for Tigers

Hinch recently joined "The Show" podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post to discuss Detroit's climb to the top of the league standings and how Báez became such an integral part of it.

"He asked, 'What can I do to help this team be better?'" Hinch said of Báez. "We just came to that agreement like, 'Hey, listen, you can move around second base, third base, shortstop, little bit of center...' The jack of all trades part of Javy's game is awesome, and he bought in from the get-go because he saw a team grow up while he was on the injured list and wanted to be a part of it."

There's also no doubt Hinch has been a catalyst here. He obviously created an environment where Báez was comfortable being this candid, and he also had a vision for how Báez can rectify his time in Detroit.

Báez's bat has cooled off somewhat, but he is still slashing an impressive .285/.323/.460 through 71 games this season. The Tigers look poised to make some noise in October, and Báez – who was not on the team's postseason roster last year – has more than proven that he deserves to be a part of it.

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