Breaking down Javier Báez’s unexpected strong start to 2025 season
Mark Gorosh and Freep sports reporter Jared Ramsey debate surprising early season performance of Javier Báez for Tigers on the “Days of Roar” podcast.
The Detroit Tigers currently have one of the best offenses in baseball, and Riley Greene is a big reason why.
The outfielder, who had been slumping for much of the season, broke out offensively over the Tigers’ last two series against the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels, and has been named the American League Player of the Week for his play.
Over his last seven games, Greene is slashing .464/.500/.893, good for a 1.393 OPS, with four home runs and eight RBI in 30 plate appearances. On May 3, Greene became the first player in MLB history to hit two home runs in the ninth inning of a game in the Tigers’ 9-1 win over the Angels.
Greene was also the first Tiger since Magglio Ordóñez in 2007 to hit two home runs in the same inning.
Before the series against Houston, Greene was hitting just .224 with four total home runs in 114 plate appearances. Since then, the 2024 All-Star has doubled his home run total and raised his season slash line to .274/.319/.489.
He’s now fifth on the team among Tigers regulars with a .808 OPS, behind Spencer Torkelson (.889), Kerry Carpenter (.870), Javier Báez (.829) and Gleyber Torres (.826). He finished second on the team with an .827 OPS in 2024.
The Tigers (22-13) currently have the best record in the AL and hold a 1½ game lead over the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central.