Javier Báez has played all over the diamond in his 12-year MLB career, but found himself in a new spot on Sunday for the Detroit Tigers.
Báez moved to center field for the final six outs of the Tigers' 4-3 walk-off win over the Chicago White Sox after the team's other shortstop, Trey Sweeney, pinch-hit for center fielder Ryan Krielder in the seventh inning.
The primary shortstop had played six positions — all four in the infield plus both corner outfield spots — across his first 11 seasons with the Tigers, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, but moved to the middle of the outfield for the first time.
"It’s something that we prepare every day," Báez said Monday. "Sometimes we gotta do infield stuff and outfield stuff so it’s a different level of preparation. But you know, whatever it takes to help the team win.”
Coming off an injury-shortened 2024 season and an offseason hip surgery, the Tigers are leaning into Báez's ability to move around the field defensively. In six appearances early in 2025, Báez has played at shortstop twice, third base three times and center field briefly.
He is one of the Tigers' answers to the injuries to outfielders Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez, who all remain on the injured list. He is a right-handed hitting option that can plug in against left-handed pitchers at either spot on the left side of the infield.
Báez is used to moving around defensively thanks to his time with the Cubs and former manager Joe Maddon, who tried to deploy him wherever the team needed his glove.
"I’ve pretty much done that all my career," Báez said.
Báez didn't see any action in his two innings in center, but was happy to make his major league debut in his favorite position in the field. He stayed in the lineup for the final two innings and started the ninth inning rally with a leadoff single for his third hit of the game. In 18 at-bats, Báez has six hits (.333 average) and three RBIs.
"That’s my favorite position," Báez said. "(Manager A.J. Hinch) knows that and as soon as he told me in spring training, I got really happy."
The focus, first and foremost, Hinch said, was that Báez came back healthy from his offseason hip procedure. Once that happened, the conversation shifted to how he could help the team, which led to the conversation of him moving around after primarily playing shortstop in his first three years with Detroit.
