Javier Baez delights Tigers fans with sweet off-day moment at Comerica Park

Javier Baez wasn’t in the Tigers’ starting lineup Saturday. But there he was—jogging out of the dugout, glove in hand, crouching behind home plate right before the start of the game against the Minnesota Twins. 

Because this time, the pitcher wasn’t an opponent. It was his son.

Seven-year-old Adrian Baez threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Comerica Park to celebrate his birthday, and his dad was there to catch it. Javier told Bally Sports Detroit that Adrian was nervous before the moment and too shy to wave to the crowd. But once the pitch was delivered and safely corralled by his dad, Adrian gave a quick smile and posed for pictures with his family like an old pro. 

It was a perfect snapshot of where Baez is right now. He's comfortable, mature and playing the best baseball he has in years.

Baez entered Saturday slashing .280/.337/.466 with 11 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a 2.3 WAR through 69 games. Those numbers aren’t just solid. They’re better than his last three seasons combined—and a long way from where things stood just months ago, when it looked like the Tigers might be stuck with an aging contract and a fading star.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez

Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Instead, Baez has found new life in Detroit. Part of it came from a willingness to move around the diamond. As manager A.J. Hinch explained earlier this season, Baez asked what he could do to help the team, and embraced the idea of moving between shortstop, second base, and even center field.

The results have been undeniable. Baez looks like a different player.

On Saturday, he wasn’t chasing sliders or diving for grounders. He was just a dad, catching a pitch from his son.