Next week, when the brightest stars in baseball descend upon Atlanta’s Truist Park for the 95th Midsummer Classic, the American League starting lineup will feature a sight few imagined just a year ago. Flanked by MVPs and perennial powerhouses, a Detroit Tigers outfielder Javier Báez will trot out to his position. This isn’t just any All-Star nod; it’s a resurrection. Voted in by the fans as a starting center fielder, Báez is completing one of the most improbable comeback stories in recent memory.
To understand the magnitude of this moment, rewind to last year. Báez wasn’t a hero but a pariah, the face of a $140 million contract widely considered the worst in the sport. His 2024 season ended with a hip injury and a batting line that looked like a misprint: a .184 average and a .516 OPS. His OPS+, where 100 is league average, sat at a dismal 43 — one of the least productive hitters in the league.
Now, Báez is a fan-voted All-Star again and a key reason why the Detroit Tigers, at 59–34, are running away with the AL Central. His selection is more than statistical — it marks a repaired relationship with fans who had every right to give up on him. The fan vote is the ultimate validation: the magic, and the man who wielded it, are back.
When the Tigers signed Báez to a six-year, $140 million deal before the 2022 season, it was supposed to be a turning point for both player and franchise. General Manager Al Avila had long admired Báez, and owner Christopher Ilitch called the signing a statement: Detroit was ready to compete. They believed they were getting El Mago, the dynamic shortstop who helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series.
But the magic never arrived. The deal quickly became a nightmare. The pressure seemed to crush Báez, and his performance spiraled. In 2022, he posted a .671 OPS and 88 OPS+. In 2023, it got worse: .593 OPS, 63 OPS+. Only two everyday players had a lower OPS over that two-year stretch. His opt-out clause after 2023 wasn’t even considered—no team would match the money after those numbers.
Then came 2024. Before his season-ending hip injury, Báez hit just .184. His contract became an organizational burden, reportedly limiting the team’s free-agent flexibility. He looked lost, a shell of the player who once dazzled in Chicago, and his time in Detroit appeared to be a failure.
The comeback didn’t start with a swing but a sacrifice. Heading into 2025, the Tigers’ outfield was depleted. Manager A.J. Hinch needed a center fielder. Báez, a Gold Glove shortstop, volunteered.
That selfless shift changed everything. “He’s all in,” Hinch said. “He is a shining example of what we’re trying to do here.” Moving him off shortstop removed the weight of his past struggles and gave him a fresh role where he could thrive. His elite range and flair — once seen in no-look tags—translated beautifully to center field. He became a highlight machine again. Diving grabs, sprinting catches, and game-saving plays ignited Comerica Park and reconnected him with fans.
The move also took pressure off his bat, allowing him the mental space to rebuild his swing. His offseason surgery restored the hip that had sapped his power. Then came a mechanical fix: a more closed batting stance that improved timing and plate coverage.
The result? Through the first half of 2025, Báez is slashing .276/.312/.448 with a .760 OPS. He’s hit 10 homers and driven in 39 runs. His OPS+ of 112 is not just an improvement—it compares to his 2019 All-Star campaign with the Cubs.
Perhaps most impressive is his newfound ability to handle breaking balls — once his kryptonite. He’s delivered clutch hits, including walk-off homers against sliders and sweepers that used to make him flail. He’s become the finisher the Tigers envisioned when they signed him.
More than anything, the transformation is reflected in the stands. The boos have vanished, replaced by thunderous chants of “Ja-vy! Ja-vy!” in Detroit. His journey from scapegoat to savior has resonated in a city that sees itself in his resilience. As one local columnist put it, “He’s a fitting hero for the Comeback City.”
The turnaround fed off the team’s success. Báez has always been an emotion-first player — thriving in high-stakes, high-energy environments. As the Tigers surged in the standings, the positive energy gave Báez the spark he needed. In turn, his electric play has lifted the team even higher.
On social media, the tone has changed. Once home to endless frustration over his contract, fan accounts now proclaim “Center Field Báez is different 🔥” and “Javy haters wya??” The fans who never gave up on him feel vindicated. And the skeptics? They’re believers now.
Here’s the thing, folks: Next Tuesday in Atlanta, El Mago will take the field for his third All-Star Game, but this one means more. The first two were about the rise of a superstar. This one is about redemption. He’ll be joined by four Tigers teammates — Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres, Tarik Skubal, and Zach McKinstry — a testament to Detroit’s rise as a legitimate powerhouse.
With that… The man who was once considered the weight dragging the Tigers down is now the wind in their sails. His story isn’t just about numbers; it’s about humility, adaptability, and refusing to give up. From the worst contract in baseball to an All-Star center fielder, from scapegoat to spark plug — Javier Báez is back. And for a Detroit Tigers team with World Series dreams, his third act might be his most magical yet.