Javier Báez embracing utility role for Detroit Tigers, especially if its in center field

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.

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Báez has struggled since signing a six-year deal with Detroit in 2022, especially at the plate. In 2022-24, he hit .221 with a .610 OPS and 341 strikeouts across 360 games.

“As soon as that happened, I had a casual conversation with him about winning and the best use of him on this team was going to be moving around a little bit and he was thrilled,” Hinch said. “I think part of it is tapping into his athleticism that he feels like he has, given he doesn’t have a back issue and hip issue.

“The other part of it is, when you frame to Javy it’s all about winning, that resonates with him. He’s a winning player. He makes winning plays, winning decisions. And just because the stat line isn’t perfect doesn’t make you a non-winning player.”

Another utility option

After Báez left the lineup in late August, the Tigers had to tinker with the lineup with different options at shortstop, including Zach McKinstry and Trey Sweeney.

Sweeney has served as the primary shortstop so far, with Báez and McKinstry sliding around the field. Andy Ibáñez has been another option at multiple positions, and Vierling will be another when he returns from his shoulder injury.

The versatility allows Hinch to tinker with the lineup to position the hitters in advantageous spots against the opposing starter, or shuffle the lineup around mid-game to account for a pinch-hitter, as he did on Sunday.

“Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry, Andy Ibáñez are three in particular who have to be ready for everything at a moment’s notice,” Hinch said. “Now you put Javy on that list too. It’s an amazing skill to be comfortable with the unknown and Z-Mac allows the roster to function properly.”

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McKinstry has been the preferred chess piece early. He has played at five positions in eight appearances this season, spending most of his time in right field after preparing in spring training to primarily play at third. He spends every day practicing in different positions in case his name gets called.

“I take a lot of reps during BP and get my work in before so super confident out there,” McKinstry said. “And A.J. is confident in me, so I’m confident out there.”

The buy-in from around the clubhouse is something McKinstry hasn’t experienced before, from himself to Riley Greene sliding to center field when necessary. He and Hinch both attributed it to the team’s collective effort to do whatever it takes to win.

“Everybody can play anywhere,’ McKinstry said. “And then you throw Javy in the mix playing center field, shortstop and third base and watching his athleticism continue to blossom at those different positions. Just watching him have fun again has been a lot of for me. … Everybody’s kind of buying into it and I think that’s what makes this team kind of tick.”

Jared Ramsey covers sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky.