Javier Baez, Infield, Detroit Tigers

Date of Birth: 12/1/1992
Birthplace: Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Javier Baez, infielder for the Detroit Tigers, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2011. He played in the Cubs' minor league system from 2011 through part of 2014 and 2015. In 393 games, he batted .288 with 434 hits, 88 doubles, 89 home runs, 80 stolen bases, 300 RBIs, and 426 strikeouts to 111 walks. Defensively, as a shortstop, he made 960 assists, 205 double plays, 572 putouts, and 97 errors in 330 games.

In his first major league game on August 5, 2014, Baez hit his first home run in the twelfth inning to win the game for the Cubs. Two games later, he hit two home runs. He finished the 2014 season with 36 hits, 6 doubles, 9 home runs, and a .169 batting average in 52 games. Defensively, he played 25 games at second base and 30 games at shortstop.

Baez played in 28 games with the Cubs in 2015 and he had 22 hits. Defensively, he played all infield positions. In the postseason, he batted .333 with 5 hits, including a home run, and 3 RBIs in 15 at-bats in 6 games.

Baez had a good first full season in the majors in 2016. He batted .273 with 115 hits, 19 doubles, 14 home runs, and 59 RBIs in 142 games. Defensively, he played 6 games at first base, 59 games at second base, 62 games at third base, 25 games at shortstop, and 2 games in left field. In the postseason, he batted .265 with 18 hits, including 4 doubles and 2 home runs, and 8 RBIs in 68 at-bats in 17 games.

Baez had another good season in 2017, batting .273 in 145 games. He finished the season with 128 hits, 24 doubles, 23 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 144 strikeouts to 30 walks. Defensively, he played 4 games at first base, 80 games at second base, 8 games at third base, 73 games at shortstop, and 1 game in right field. In the postseason, he had 2 hits, both home runs, in 26 at-bats in 10 games.

Baez continued to play well in 2018, leading the National League in RBIs with 111. He won his first Silver Slugger award in 2018. He finished the season with 176 hits, 40 doubles, 34 home runs, 21 stolen bases, and a .290 batting average. Defensively, he played 1 game at first base, 104 games at second base, 22 games at third base, and 65 games at shortstop. In the postseason, he had one hit in five at-bats.

Baez finished the 2019 season with 149 hits, 38 doubles, 29 home runs, 85 RBIs, 156 strikeouts to 28 walks, and a .281 batting average in 138 games. Defensively, as a shortstop in 129 games, he made 366 assists, 88 double plays, 165 putouts, and 15 errors.

Baez played in 59 games in 2020. He finished the season with 45 hits, 9 doubles, 8 home runs, 24 RBIs, 75 strikeouts to 7 walks, and a .203 batting average. He had a good season defensively, winning his first Gold Glove as a shortstop in 56 games. In the postseason, he had 1 hit in 8 at-bats in 2 games.

The Cubs traded Baez to the New York Mets on July 30, 2021. He finished the 2021 season with 133 hits, 18 doubles, 31 home runs, 18 stolen bases, 87 RBIs, a NL leading 184 strikeouts to 28 walks, and a .265 batting average in 91 games with the Cubs and 47 games with the Mets. Defensively, as a shortstop in 100 games, he made 263 assists, 53 double plays, 152 putouts, and 20 errors.

Baez became a free agent on November 3, 2021. He signed with the Tigers on December 1st.

Career batting statistics for Baez through 2021 include:

• 862 games played
• 804 hits
• 160 doubles
• 149 home runs
• 465 RBIs
• 953 strikeouts to 156 walks
• .264 batting average

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Javier Baez
ESPN - Javier Baez
Baseball Reference - Javier Baez