Javier Baez
31-Year-Old
2023 Stats
AVG
.222
HR
9
RBI
59
R
58
SB
12
2024 Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Baez's time in Detroit has mostly been a disaster so far. The shortstop signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Tigers before the 2022 season and has proceeded to struggle each of the last two years. After posting a .671 OPS in 2022, he bottomed out with a .592 OPS last year, which was his worst outside of the .551 OPS he posted as a 21-year-old rookie in 2014. By comparison, Baez averaged a .783 OPS across eight seasons before coming over to Detroit. Not surprisingly, his counting stats were down in 2023 as well, as he recorded only nine home runs and 59 RBI across 136 games. Baez lowered his strikeout rate a little bit, from 24.9% to 22.9%, though he continued to rarely take walks and mostly made weak contact on his swings. Now entering his age-31 season, Baez clearly looks like a player on the decline. Some fantasy managers will likely roll the dice given his past performance, though there is nothing in his recent profile to suggest a turnaround is coming anytime soon. Read Past Outlooks
Spring struggles continue
Baez, who went 0-for-2 with an RBI in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, is now batting just .050 this spring.
ANALYSIS
Baez has gone just 1-for-20 with 10 strikeouts across nine spring games. Veteran players can often be given a free pass for slow starts, but with Baez struggling mightily in his first two seasons with the Tigers, the recent performance is worrisome. The 31-year-old should still have a fairly firm hold on the starting shortstop role, though fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere, at least until Baez shows any signs of getting going at the plate.
Baez has gone just 1-for-20 with 10 strikeouts across nine spring games. Veteran players can often be given a free pass for slow starts, but with Baez struggling mightily in his first two seasons with the Tigers, the recent performance is worrisome. The 31-year-old should still have a fairly firm hold on the starting shortstop role, though fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere, at least until Baez shows any signs of getting going at the plate.
Batting Stats
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2023 MLB Game Log
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Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
14
28
14
8
14
8
11
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
9
3
8
4
3
6
2
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2021
+24%
OPS vs LHP
2023
+15%
OPS vs LHP
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2021vs Left | .808 | 428 | 17 | 59 | .276 | ||||
Since 2021vs Right | .652 | 1254 | 40 | 154 | .230 | ||||
2023vs Left | .659 | 140 | 3 | 14 | .232 | ||||
2023vs Right | .571 | 406 | 6 | 45 | .218 | ||||
2022vs Left | .834 | 144 | 5 | 24 | .301 | ||||
2022vs Right | .618 | 446 | 12 | 43 | .217 | ||||
2021vs Left | .926 | 144 | 9 | 21 | .291 | ||||
2021vs Right | .773 | 402 | 22 | 66 | .256 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2021
+10%
OPS on Road
2023
+26%
OPS on Road
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2021Home | .656 | 810 | 29 | 103 | .230 | ||||
Since 2021Away | .724 | 872 | 28 | 110 | .252 | ||||
2023Home | .523 | 267 | 3 | 30 | .205 | ||||
2023Away | .661 | 279 | 6 | 29 | .238 | ||||
2022Home | .603 | 275 | 7 | 26 | .220 | ||||
2022Away | .729 | 315 | 10 | 41 | .253 | ||||
2021Home | .845 | 268 | 19 | 47 | .266 | ||||
2021Away | .781 | 278 | 12 | 40 | .264 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Stat Review
How does Javier Baez compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.19BB Rate
4.4%K Rate
22.9%BABIP
.274ISO
.104AVG
.222OBP
.267SLG
.325OPS
.593wOBA
.264Exit Velocity
88.0 mphHard Hit Rate
28.4%Barrels/PA
3.7%Expected BA
.238Expected SLG
.360Sprint Speed
24.0 ft/secGround Ball %
49.9%Line Drive %
18.1%Fly Ball %
32.0%Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
Everyone remembers the infamous ceremonial first pitch by 50-Cent years ago, yes? Baez absolutely would have swung at that pitch in 2022. The first year Tiger led the league with a 49% out of zone swing rate last season chasing anything and everything thrown toward home plate and only Luke Voit had a worse swinging strike rate baseball last season. Perhaps the pressures of a big free agent in a new home fell upon him as this was easily the worst season of his career as he struggled to adjust to the spaciousness of Comerica Park after so many years in the Friendly Comfines in Chicago as he hit .220 with 7 homers at home compared to .253 with 10 homers on the road this past season. Despite his lack of selectiveness, he did surprisingly well with runners in scoring position hitting .296 with a .496 slugging percentage which allowed him to drive in 47 of his 67 RBIs on the season.However, a .212 average with a .260 OBP with the bases empty, which they often were in Detroit, impacted his abilities to score runs and steal bases. The second year rebound many free agents have seen should come into play here with Baez as he reduces his impulse to swing his way out of his struggles. He has never been the most disciplined hitter, but 2022 was as bad as we have ever seen from him and not the new reality.
More Fantasy News
Trying to overcome nagging injuries
Baez revealed Friday that he's dealt with nagging back and core issues over the last two seasons, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
ANALYSIS
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Finishes down year with two hits
Baez went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Guardians.
ANALYSIS
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On bench Saturday
Baez is not in the lineup Saturday against the Guardians.
ANALYSIS
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Taking seat Thursday
Baez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.
ANALYSIS
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On bench Saturday
Baez (back) is not in the lineup Saturday against the Athletics.
ANALYSIS
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