Tigers' Javier Báez launches two homers in 7-3 win over Pirates

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News on Jun 17, 2025

Published in Baseball

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DETROIT – Javier Báez isn’t necessarily comfortable being the kid called to the front of the class.

But there was no way his teammates weren’t going to celebrate him before the game Tuesday, the day he secured 10 years of MLB service time.

His locker was decked out with a massive display of balloons. There were Puerto Rican flags placed all around the clubhouse. Báez's favorite foods were served in the team’s cafeteria.

It was El Mago day. Before the game and especially during the game.

Báez launched two homers to push the Tigers past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 at Comerica Park.

He pounded a curveball from lefty Bailey Falter 407 feet into the visitor’s bullpen in left-center field in the fifth to tie the game 3-3. Then, leading off the seventh against righty reliever Carmen Mlodzinski, he stayed on a two-strike sweeper and hit it over the visitor’s bullpen – 410 feet.

They were his eighth and ninth homers and made it a full-circle event for Báez.

“We just went back in time to Aug. 5, 2014, when he debuted with the Cubs in Colorado,” manager AJ Hinch said, talking about the team’s Javy-fest before the game. “I quizzed him on who he hit the homer off of and how that day was.”

Baez remembered it well. He was 0 for 5 when he came to bat in the top of the 12th inning against lefty Boone Logan. He slugged a home run to right-center that ended up being the game-winner.

Only fitting that the first homer was off a lefty Tuesday. The second one was a bonus. As was his single in the second and his patented, quick grab and tag of catcher Dillon Dingler’s throw to nab Alexander Canario trying to steal second in the third.

“It’s a big accomplishment,” Hinch said of reaching 10 years of service time. “And Javy has done almost everything in the game: Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, All-Star, World Series ring. He’s been incredible in his decade and we’re proud of him. And we should celebrate him, even if this feels inevitable for a player of his magnitude.

“It’s still cool to see him get emotional, little bit shy and a little bit embarrassed at being the center of attention.”

Wenceel Perez threatened to steal Baez’s thunder. Batting right-handed, which is usually his least productive side of the plate, he slugged a two-run homer in the second inning.

On Sunday, he doubled and homered batting right-handed.

He broke a 3-3 in the sixth, batting left-handed, he scored Riley Greene from first base with a triple into the gap in right-center.

That made a winner out of right-hander Casey Mize (7-2, 2.96), who delivered a six-inning quality start, allowing three runs, two earned, with four strikeouts.

Greene provided the icing on the party cake. He unloaded on a 3-2 slider that was down and in and sent his 15th homer 436 feet to the back of the right-field seats, a two-run homer. The ball left his bat at 113.7 mph.

But this was Báez's day. Getting to the 10-year threshold is a huge achievement for players. Not only is it a testament to their talent, durability and perseverance, it triggers the maximum retirement benefit ($275,000 per year).

“You guys (media) get the guarded version of him,” Hinch said. “We get the unfiltered version behind the scenes. 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 and the banter that comes with being one of the older players.

“He’s really embracing Detroit and trying to help us win.”

Báez, 32, is enjoying a renaissance this season. He’s hitting .289 with an .798 OPS.

“His story in Detroit is not over but it’s been written a couple of different ways,” Hinch said. “Based on how he came in as a high-profile, big-contract guy, part of the signal that there were better times ahead.

“He’s had to ride a pretty big rollercoaster in his time here. And now he’s contributing to a good team, doing a lot of different things for us and being that same joyful, young guy behind the scenes.”

Certainly, as evidenced by the reaction of the 27,449 in attendance Tuesday, he’s turned the jeers to cheers.

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