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. A celebration of his excellence and endurance before, during and after the game. Especially during.
“I don’t know how many guys on the anniversary of 10 years of service time can go out and have a game like that,” manager AJ Hinch said. “Just remarkable.”
Báez launched two homers to push the Tigers past the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-3, at Comerica Park.
“It feels great to be here,” Báez said. “It’s been a long road, lots of ups and downs. In this game, there are a lot of ups and downs and I’ve been down many times and never kept my head down. I kept working and I’m going to keep working until the last day.
“Honestly, I’m impressed with the way I’m still doing this. I feel blessed.”
He pounded a curveball from lefty Bailey Falter 407 feet into the visitor’s bullpen in left-center 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.
BOX SCORE: Tigers 7, Pirates 3
MLB STANDINGS“It’s fun to watch him thrive on this team,” Hinch said. “He gives us a ton, on the field, behind the scenes. He’s all in. I love this for him tonight. He should celebrate and be very proud.”
The homers were his eighth and ninth and made it somewhat of a full-circle event for Báez.
“We just went back in time to Aug. 5, 2014, when he debuted with the Cubs in Colorado,” 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.”
Báez 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.
“I didn’t think I was going to get a hit at all that game,” Báez said. “I was just so happy to have made it to the big leagues. I mean, I always swing hard, but I was swinging really hard that day.”
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 Báez’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. But afterward, like everyone else, he wanted to celebrate for Báez.
“He’s incredible,” Perez said. “We are proud of him. It’s just amazing to be able to play with him here. Just so happy for him.”
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.
And 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.
“Today is about Javy,” Mize said. “We love him in this clubhouse and we always have. Today is a special day for him, 10 years of service, hits two homers and is the star of the game. He’s a superstar.”
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.
@cmccosky
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