Javy Báez is good now and Tigers fans don’t know how to feel

From Spencer Torkelson mashing at the plate, to Casey Mize pitching like an ace, to utility man Zach McKinstry turning into a hit machine, the early portion of the Detroit Tigers' season has been full of surprises.

Perhaps one of the biggest, though, has been Javy Báez. Once considered Public Enemy No. 1 in Detroit (and deservedly so), the Tigers' $140 million man has turned into one of their most valuable players this season.

For starters, Báez's bat is heating up in a big way. He's slashing .309/.350/.479 with three home runs – including a game-winning grand slam against the Houston Astros last week – through 28 games. He has also shown off his defensive versatility as the Tigers deal with a slew of injuries to their outfield, taking over as the club's primary center fielder despite never having played the position before.

And Báez isn't merely holding his own in the outfield; he's thriving. He has made multiple Gold Glove-caliber plays in center field, including a game-saving home run robbery against the Los Angeles Angels, and has been a real difference maker for the Tigers over the past month.

Javy Báez is good now and Tigers fans don’t know how to feel

After three years of mediocrity (at best), Báez's renaissance is the glow-up that absolutely nobody saw coming. Understandably, it has been met with a healthy dose of skepticism.

No matter how valuable Báez may be to the Tigers now, it doesn't negate the fact that he cost them nearly $70 million through the first three years of his contract. He drastically underperformed expectations from 2022-24, capped off by an injury-shortened 2024 season that saw him hit a career-worst .184/.221/.294 through 80 games.

Any criticism Báez received during his first three years in Detroit is absolutely warranted. But there's no denying that he has been a major contributor to the Tigers' hot start in 2025, whether he's hitting homers or robbing them.

Is Báez actually good now, or is his recent hot streak merely lightning in a bottle? It may be a while before we know for sure, but Tigers fans should enjoy this while it lasts – however long that may be.

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