Javier Báez Faces Extended Absence Due to Injury

Javier Báez, the veteran infielder for the Tigers, is expected to be out for an extended period. He has been sidelined since late April with an ankle sprain and has just been suspended from baseball activities after consulting with a specialist on Monday.

Manager AJ Hinch shared with reporters on Tuesday that, “The Jaybees are going to need some time off. He’s not progressing very quickly. Rest is still part of the equation at the moment.” It seems like they were trying to strengthen his ankle, but unfortunately, symptoms persisted.

“High ankle sprains can be particularly tricky,” he added. “Sometimes, the symptoms hang around longer compared to fractures. Although experts say we’re on the right track, we have to take it slow.”

On April 28, Báez twisted his ankle awkwardly while sliding into first base and was carted off the field. Prior to his injury, he was playing various positions including center field, shortstop, and second base, with a batting average of .256 and a .670 OPS across 78 at-bats.

Since joining the Tigers, Báez’s time has been marred by injuries, making his tenure quite disappointing. This follows a successful run with the Cubs and a brief period with the Mets, where he finished second in the National League MVP voting. He signed a hefty six-year, $140 million contract with Detroit ahead of the 2022 season.

In the five seasons since then, Báez’s performance has dropped, showing a .230/.268/.361 batting line in 510 games, even though he made it to the All-Star Game last year.

His delayed recovery adds to the challenges the Tigers are facing in what has already been a tumultuous season. With a record of 23 wins and 38 losses, they currently sit last in the American League Central Division. Notably, they are also without back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winners, Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, as well as Gleyber Torres, all of whom are on the injured list this season.