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, leading the American League with 22 wins, have seen a dramatic offensive improvement in 2025.Key players from the 2024 roster, including McKinstry, Carpenter, Torkelson, Greene and Báez, are driving this offensive surge.The Tigers rank among MLB’s top five in several offensive categories, a stark contrast to 2024.
This Detroit Tigers turnaround is downright offensive.
That is, it’s their offense leading the charge to a first-place showing and an American League-best 22 wins so far in 2025.
The Tigers lineup, after being one of the least productive across MLB in 2024, has developed into one of the best offenses in the league in 2025, courtesy of improved performances by some Tigers mainstays.
Detroit is currently top-5 in MLB in several offensive categories, including batting average (fifth at .255), slugging percentage (fifth at .423), home runs (fifth at 47), runs (tied for fourth at 179) and FanGraphs’ wins above replacement (third at 7.6). The only AL team consistently ranking higher than the Tigers in offense is the New York Yankees, who currently have three fewer wins than the Tigers as of Monday.
Compare this season’s Tigers offense to last season, which was one of the worst in baseball. In 2024, the Tigers finished second-to-last in on-base percentage (.300), 24th in batting average (.234) and 23rd in team OPS (.685). But one could argue that this turnaround actually started in 2024.
In a way, the Tigers’ offensive rise is a continuation of the team’s performance following the 2024 trade deadline, when the Tigers finished the season with a 34-19 record and a surprise playoff berth. The Tigers’ batting average rose from 27th in the league before the July 30 deadline to 13th in the league following the deadline. They also raised their on-base percentage from 28th to 15th and their walk rate from 22nd to ninth in the league.
And now, they’re a top-five offense boasting the AL’s best record.
What’s remarkable about the Tigers’ run is that the team’s best hitters are all familiar faces from the 2024 squad, namely Zach McKinstry, Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Javy Báez.
McKinstry has made arguably the biggest jump for the Tigers between 2024 and 2025. After sporting a .614 OPS in 2024, he has raised that number to .802 in 2025, which is 32% above league average when adjusting for ballpark factors. Combined with his versatile defense, McKinstry lands second among Tigers position players with 1.2 WAR according to Baseball Reference.
Tops among position players in WAR, however, is the team’s highest-paid player, Báez, with 1.5 Baseball Reference WAR. He currently leads Tigers’ regulars with a .309 average and is on pace to have his best season in a Tigers uniform, all while playing a brand new position. But his breakout may not be the most surprising on the team.
That title could belong to Torkelson, who in just 35 games has already hit as many home runs (10) as he hit in 92 games in 2024. He also leads the Tigers in RBI (27), walks (20) and OPS (.889), which could come as a surprise since he entered spring training not knowing if he would play a key role on the team or even make the team.
As for Carpenter and Greene? They’re continuing to mash, contributing to an offense that scored 34 runs in its recent four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
And it’s not just the usual suspects: Dillon Dingler, Andy Ibáñez and Jake Rogers are all sporting a respective OPS above league average, giving the Tigers more than a lineup’s worth of hitters currently outpacing a typical major leaguer. The only significant offseason lineup addition, Gleyber Torres, is also holding his own with an .826 OPS and four home runs in 22 games.
It’s as if this year’s lineup got a makeover using the same brushes from last year.
If there’s anything the Tigers’ offense has to worry about currently, it’s where to fit all of their offensive contributors. Báez is playing out of position in center field with Parker Meadows still on the 60-day IL, while McKinstry has been shuffling around all over the field to keep his bat in the lineup. Third baseman Matt Vierling should slide in nicely once he returns from injury.
But it’s a logjam the first-place Tigers will take. Even if this offense experiences some natural regression as the season plays out, more than enough bats have emerged to turn this Tigers lineup into one of the league’s scariest.
You can reach Christian atcromo@freepress.com.