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BOSTON — Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez tracked a checked-swing blooper into shallow left field with runners on the corners and two outs in the second inning. He chased it down and extended into a dive.
Báez caught the ball.
More than a highlight-reel play, the magical catch from Báez saved a run in the Tigers’ 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, Sept. 27, in the second of three games in the series at Fenway Park. With the victory, the Tigers clinched a postseason berth for the second straight season.
This time, Báez got to celebrate.
“It really means a lot to me,” said Báez, who didn’t celebrate last season — or play in any of the Tigers’ postseason games — due to a right hip injury that required surgery. “This year, I told the boys, ‘Keep playing.’ We’ve been up and down. After the second half, we had a lot of downs, but I told them to keep playing good baseball.”
Had Báez not made the catch, a one-run deficit would’ve become a two-run deficit in the second inning, and since the Tigers scored just two runs, the catch could’ve been the difference between a win and another devastating loss.
Manager A.J. Hinch called it the most important play of the game.
President of baseball operations Scott Harris glowed about the play of the game at the mention of Báez’s name.
“Oh my goodness, what a play,” Harris said.
Báez explained how he did it.
“As soon as I took one step, I felt like an outfielder,” said Báez, who has moved all around the field this season, starting 53 games at shortstop, 43 in center field, 16 at third base and three at second base. “I don’t know how far I went, but I felt like I ran forever. When I take the first step really good, and my timing is good, I think I can get really far for those plays.”
Not only did Báez’s defense shine, but he also helped the Tigers clinch a spot in the postseason with his offense and baserunning. The Tigers scored their only two runs in the fifth inning, with Báez responsible for one of those runs.
Jahmai Jones delivered the clutch two-out, two-run single for a 2-1 lead, but Báez — who produced a two-strike single to keep the inning alive — registered his fastest sprint speed as he scored from second base.
Báez eluded a tag attempt from the catcher after a one-hop throw from the left fielder on the play at plate, choosing the inside of the basepath and swiping his right leg across the plate.
“Every run is huge right now,” Báez said. “I don’t consider myself fast. I know how to run the bases really good, though. As soon as I saw the catcher go out of the lane, I went inside the lane.”
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It was a special way to solidify a comeback season.
Báez, who turns 33 in early December, will never live up to the six-year, $140 million contract, but as the Tigers brace for the remaining two years and $48 million, there were reminders throughout the 2025 campaign that he can be a positive contributor.
“He lives for these moments,” Hinch said. “He loves these environments that are a little bit rowdy. He still gets yelled at more than any player that we have, whether it’s taunts or even some cheers. It’s that type of mindset that you can bring to a big game, a big series and a big environment.”
In 2025, Báez is hitting .257 with 11 home runs, 10 walks and 106 strikeouts in 125 games. His .675 OPS is the best mark among his four seasons with the Tigers, but it’s still significantly worse than his .783 OPS in eight seasons before joining the Tigers.
Here’s how Báez can help the Tigers moving forward: He hit .318 with a .770 OPS in 134 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, emphasizing singles to the right side of the infield, and he showed above-average performance at four positions, including center field and shortstop.
Don’t forget about his veteran presence, either.
“I told all the boys, ‘This is the beginning of the end,'” said Báez, who isn’t considered a leader but provides value as a teammate. “This is when we got to get it locked in and play the rest of the games as a team and try to win as much as we can.”
After Saturday’s 2-1 win, Báez celebrated the postseason berth with his teammates in the visitor’s clubhouse at Fenway Park — exactly 388 days after undergoing hip surgery.
The injury and surgery kept Báez from celebrating with the Tigers on their way to the 2024 postseason, but he showed up on crutches to support his teammates from the dugout during the ALDS, though he wasn’t there for the wild-card series.
This is his first trip to the postseason since 2020.
In 2025, Báez believes the Tigers can win the World Series.
“Everything has to click — the pitching, the hitting, the defense, the baserunning,” said Báez, a 2016 World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs. “I think we got away a little bit from that. We got to play our game. We got to keep our plan. As long as we do that, and the pitching and the hitting matches, and then we click, there’s not a team that can beat us.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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