Tigers' Javier Báez celebrates 10 years of MLB service time in best way possible

USA Today

3 days ago

It was Javier Báez Day at Comerica Park.
Not just because of his two home runs, but because he officially reached 10 years of MLB service time on Tuesday, June 17 — exactly 3,969 days after his debut. Less than 10% of all MLB players reach 10 years, which fully vests them in the league's pension plan and symbolizes longevity in the game) complete with a lifetime pass to MLB games).
Báez celebrated the moment with a pair of homers for the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
"It's fun to watch him thrive on this team," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He gives us a ton on the field, behind the scenes, and he's all in. I love this for him tonight."
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There were other celebrations, too.
His locker was decked out with balloons. Puerto Rican food was served in the cafeteria. Flags from his homeland hung in the clubhouse. His teammates gifted him a signed bottle of champagne.
After that, Báez put on a spectacular performance during Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates — solo homers in the fifth and seventh innings.
"It feels great to be here," said Báez, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and delivered his second two-homer game of the season. "It's been a long way. A lot of ups and downs in this game. I've been down many times. I never kept my head down. I kept working. And I'll keep working to the last day."
This story is about more than one night.
It's about a player who has seen the darkest of days and is finally seeing the light again.
The stats show Báez was the worst hitter in baseball in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but in 2025, he is the frontrunner for American League Comeback Player of the Year and is on the doorstep of representing the Tigers in the All-Star Game.
"Usually, when I do good, it's in the second half," said Báez, who ranked fifth among AL outfielders in thr All-Star Game fan voting released Monday, June 16. 'If I get to the All-Star Game, I'm honestly going to be happy. If not, I'm going to get my rest for the second half."
In 2025, Báez is hitting .289 with nine home runs, for a .798 OPS in 62 games.
That's a massive improvement from the past three seasons: a .238 batting average and .671 OPS in 2022, .222 with a .593 OPS in 2023 and .184 with a .516 OPS in 2024 — the worst stretch of his 12-year MLB career.
Báez leads Tigers' position players with 1.8 bWAR, trailing only starting pitcher Tarik Skubal. He started the season as a utility player for matchups against left-handed pitchers, became the everyday center fielder for more than a month and is now back to his old role as the primary shortstop. His 22% strikeout rate is the lowest mark of his career.
He has been a positive contributor to the team with the best record in baseball.
"You guys get such a guarded version of him, and we get the unfiltered version behind the scenes," Hinch said. "He still has a lot of youthfulness in him. He still has a ton of energy. He loves being at the ballpark and being with his teammates. I think he's really embracing Detroit and trying to help us win."
Before Tuesday's game, Tigers players and coaches honored Báez behind the scenes in the hitters meeting. They all talked about Aug. 5, 2014 — the night Báez made his MLB debut. In the 12th inning, on his sixth plate appearance, he crushed a solo home run off Boone Logan for his first hit in the big leagues.
Then came the perspective: Riley Greene was only 13 years old that night; Colt Keith was just 12.
The room of players and coaches also credited Báez for everything he's accomplished since then: World Series championship in 2016, All-Star selections in 2018 and 2019, a Silver Slugger in 2018 and a Gold Glove in 2020.
Báez was the center of attention.
He showed his emotions in the way he responded to their praise in the meeting — a little bit shy, a little bit embarrassed, but very thankful.
"It means a lot," Báez said. "I still got a long way to go, but I can say I did it. It feels like it was yesterday, and it feels like it's been forever, but I'm just blessed to be here."
On Tuesday, Báez reflected on his family.
Back in August 2014, Báez had ten family members at his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies in Denver— including his sister, Noely. She was born with spina bifida and died in April 2015, just eight months after her brother's first game. His earliest goal was simple: Make it to the big leagues in time for his sister to see him play.
"I've never seen a person fight for their life more than my sister," Báez said. "My kids ask me about her. I'm always happy to talk about her. I get sensitive about it, but it's a good thing to remember her and have her present in my life and in my family."
In June 2025, Báez had his wife, Irmarie Márquez, and his children in the stands for the 1,284th game of his career, in which he hit two home runs against the Pirates. He has two sons — his youngest is 4; his oldest turns 7 soon. His latest goal is just as simple: keep playing until it's time to be a full-time dad.
"After every game, my oldest kid tells me what I didn't do right," Báez said, laughing. "He tells me that I didn't put my leg out on my stance and a lot of things. It's just funny the way they see the game. But the game is the same."
Báez has been many things in his MLB career — a prodigy, a star, a champion, a struggling veteran. These days, he is still standing after all of those experiences, both good and bad.
He's playing for a World Series contender again.
He's still playing for his family.
And he's back to playing some of his best baseball.
"His story in Detroit is not over, but it's been written a couple of different ways," Hinch said. "He's had to ride a pretty big roller coaster in his time here, and now he's contributing to a good team and doing a lot of different things for us — and being that same joyful young guy behind the scenes."