This forgotten prospect could be Tigers’ answer if Javy Báez goes onto IL

The Detroit Tigers may have escaped Tuesday night with only a 5-2 loss to the Braves, but the bigger concern came when Javier Báez exited the game after appearing to injure his right ankle on a play at first base.

Now the Tigers wait.

Báez underwent X-rays after the game and is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday, but if the veteran lands on the injured list, Detroit suddenly finds itself in an uncomfortable position. Despite hitting near the bottom of the lineup, Báez has quietly become one of the most important glue pieces on the roster this season.

He’s been handling shortstop duties while also filling in admirably in center field for the injured Parker Meadows. That kind of versatility is not easy to replace, especially for a Tigers club already navigating injuries around the diamond.

And if Báez misses time, there’s one name fans probably haven’t thought about in a while that suddenly makes a ton of sense: Gage Workman.

It’s easy to forget Workman was once viewed as one of the more intriguing athletes in Detroit’s farm system after being drafted out of Arizona State in 2020. His development path, however, became anything but straightforward. He spent time with both the Cubs and White Sox organizations after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft before eventually finding his way back to the Tigers.

At the time, the reunion barely registered as a headline. Now? It might end up mattering quite a bit.

Tigers may have an under-the radar Javy Báez replacement in Gage Workman

Workman has been outstanding at Triple-A Toledo to begin 2026, slashing .344/.413/.583 with a .996 OPS through 26 games. He’s already collected four home runs and 18 RBI while continuing to provide the kind of defensive flexibility that organizations covet.

That versatility is the key here. Workman has already started games at second base, third base, and shortstop this season. In prior years, he also logged innings across all three outfield spots. If Báez goes down, Detroit wouldn’t necessarily need a one-for-one shortstop replacement. They need someone who can help stabilize multiple areas of the roster while allowing Kevin McGonigle, Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez to slide around naturally.

There's another layer to this — namely, that the Tigers are no longer in the phase of their rebuild where roster spots are handed out strictly based on prospect pedigree. Detroit is trying to win games right now. A player producing at nearly a 1.000 OPS in Triple-A while offering legitimate defensive flexibility deserves serious consideration, especially when the alternatives become increasingly thin.

And unlike some emergency call-ups, Workman wouldn’t be walking into the clubhouse overwhelmed by the moment. He already experienced the whirlwind of reaching the majors through Chicago. He’s been humbled, bounced around, and forced to rebuild his value. Sometimes those players end up becoming exactly the type of contributors contenders need.

The Tigers hope Báez’s MRI reveals nothing serious. But if they suddenly need help, the answer might already be waiting in Toledo.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow