The Tigers activated Baez (ankle) from the 60-day injured list, and he's starting in center field and batting ninth Tuesday against the Orioles.
Baez has been sidelined three months due to an ankle sprain but is now back on the active roster after completing a four-game rehab assignment. The 33-year-old should see regular playing time between center field and shortstop for the Tigers.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Activation likely Tuesday
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Manager A.J. Hinch said that he expects Baez (ankle) to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
The 33-year-old has been sidelined due to an ankle sprain since late April, but he's ready to rejoin the Tigers after a four-game rehab assignment, during which he went 6-for-12 with three doubles. Baez had a .256/.280/.397 slash line through 24 games prior to the injury. He made starts at center field and shortstop during the rehab stint, which provides an indication of where he'll be spending most of his time on the big-league club.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Moving rehab to Triple-A
Rotowire
Baez (ankle) will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Baez made two appearances for Single-A Lakehead earlier this week and is ready to take the next step in his recovery from a right ankle sprain that landed him on the injured list in late April. He'll need multiple reps in center field and shortstop before being cleared to return from the 60-day IL.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Baez (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Baez has been on the shelf since late April due to a right ankle sprain, and though he's taken longer than anticipated to heal up from the injury, he's now reached the final stage of his lengthy recovery process. Prior to being deactivated, Baez produced a .677 OPS across 82 plate appearances with Detroit. He's likely to see reps at both shortstop and center field during his rehab assignment before coming off the 60-day injured list.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Taking live BP, running on tap
Rotowire
Baez (ankle) began participating in live batting practice this week and is scheduled to run the bases Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Baez initially landed on the injured list in late April due to a sprained right ankle, but a setback combined with overall slow progress has caused his time on the shelf to approach the three-month mark. He'll presumably require an extended rehab assignment in the minor leagues before rejoining the Tigers, and a clearer timeline for his return to play should emerge as he increases his activity.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Tigers transferred Baez (ankle) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim James Outman. Baez encountered a setback earlier this month with his right high-ankle sprain and remains shut down from baseball activities. He's now ineligible for activation until late June, but it seems unlikely Baez will be ready by then, anyway. A timeline for his return won't become clearer until he is able to ramp up activities again and eventually go out on a rehab assignment.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Shut down from activities
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Baez (ankle) has been shut down from baseball activities for an unspecified length of time, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Initially placed on the 10-day injured list April 29 due to a right high-ankle sprain, Baez hadn't progressed as quickly as the Tigers had hoped while conducting his rehab program at the team's facility in Florida. After meeting with an ankle specialist Monday, Baez was advised to put his rehab on hold and rest up for the time being. Once he eventually starts ramping up again, Baez is likely to require a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the Tigers, so he's still expected to be multiple weeks away from being activated.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Making slow progress with ankle
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Baez is scheduled to meet with a specialist in the near future for further evaluation on his sprained right ankle, which hasn't healed as quickly as the team hoped, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
After being placed on the shelf April 29, Baez had been in the midst of a running and hitting progression at the Tigers' spring training facility in Florida, but he apparently hasn't been able to get over the hump in his recovery from the injury. Once Baez gets checked out by the specialist, the Tigers should have a better idea regarding a treatment plan for the injury along with a potential timeline for the 33-year-old to start ramping up his activities. Given that he's already missed nearly a month due to the injury, Baez could be a candidate to shift to the 60-day injured list if he's not ready to begin a rehab assignment within the next couple of weeks.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Ramping up in Florida
Rotowire
Baez (ankle) has been conducting his rehab at the Tigers' spring training facility in Florida and is taking part in full baseball activities, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The Tigers haven't issued a definitive target date for Baez's return from the 10-day injured list, but he could soon be ready to head out on a rehab assignment or take part in simulated games as part of his ramp-up process. Before hitting the shelf April 29 due to a right ankle sprain, Baez had been splitting time between shortstop and center field this season and slashed .256/.280/.397 over 82 plate appearances. While Baez's offensive production wasn't anything special, the Tigers still have multiple weak spots in their lineup, so the 33-year-old may have a path to a near-everyday role once he returns.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Sidelined by sprained ankle
Rotowire
The Tigers placed Baez on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right ankle sprain.
Baez suffered the injury while trying to leg out a base hit in Tuesday's loss to Atlanta and was carted off the field. The Tigers haven't revealed the severity of Baez's sprain, but he's likely to need more than just a minimum 10-day absence. Wenceel Perez and Matt Vierling should see upticks in playing time while Baez is shelved.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Carted off field
Rotowire
Baez was removed from Tuesday's game against Atlanta with an apparent right ankle injury, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Baez made an awkward slide into first base during the fifth inning of Tuesday's contest and had to leave the game in a cart. The Tigers will presumably send him in for imaging to determine the severity of his injury, at which point more will be known regarding his short-term availability. Any missed starts for Baez would likely lead to increased playing time in the outfield for Wenceel Perez and also make it easier for Gleyber Torres, Colt Keith and Kevin McGonigle to make regular starts in the infield.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Baez isn't in the starting lineup Sunday versus Cincinnati.
Baez started the Tigers' previous five games, making appearances at shortstop and second base and in center field. However, he'll begin Sunday on the bench after going 3-for-17 with one homer during that five-game stretch.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Hits second home run in loss
Rotowire
Baez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-8 loss to the Reds.
Baez launched his second home run of the season in the third inning against Cincinnati lefty Andrew Abbott. The veteran utility player continues to see regular playing time split between the middle infield and center field. While Baez's power production is down from earlier in his career, he is at least making solid contact with a .278 batting average, which would be his best mark since 2019.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Grabbing seat Monday
Rotowire
Baez is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Red Sox.
Baez had drawn seven consecutive starts, but he'll get a day off for the Patriots' Day game in Boston. Matt Vierling will patrol center field, and Kevin McGonigle will occupy shortstop in the series finale.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Continues solid play
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Baez went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Royals.
Baez started in center field for the third time in Detroit's last five games, and he continued his solid start to the season. The veteran is now batting .295 with a .774 OPS, one home run, five RBI and five runs scored across 13 appearances. Baez's ability to play the outfield has opened up shortstop for young phenom Kevin McGonigle, and that arrangement figures to stick for the time being, though McGonigle can also shift over to third to allow Baez to cover short on occasion.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Baez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins.
Baez will get a chance to catch his breath after going 7-for-14 with a homer and three runs scored over his last four games. Kevin McGonigle will start at shortstop while Baez sits, and Matt Vierling will patrol center field.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Swats first homer of year
Rotowire
Baez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-0 win over the Marlins.
Getting the start in center field and batting ninth, the veteran utility player took Chris Paddack deep in the fifth inning for his first long ball of the season. Baez will still get reps at shortstop, but he'll be part of the solution in the outfield while Parker Meadows (concussion/arm) is sidelined, a role Baez thrived in last season. He's had a quick start to 2026 at the plate as well, slashing .324/.351/.500 through 10 games with three doubles, a steal, four runs and four RBI.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Pair of hits in loss Thursday
Rotowire
Baez went 2-for-4 with a double in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Twins.
Baez was the only Detroit player to record multiple hits, as Mick Abel shut out the Tigers through six innings before giving way to the bullpen. Baez was the lone hitter to have much success against Abel, singling in the second inning before doubling in the fourth. The veteran utility man is still looking for his first home run of the season but is slashing .323/.353/.419 with three doubles, three RBI, three runs scored, one stolen base and a 1:7 BB:K across 34 plate appearances.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Baez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Baez will take a seat after going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's win. His absence will allow Kevin McGonigle to start at shortstop with Colt Keith at third base.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Swipes first bag in win
Rotowire
Baez went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and an RBI in Friday's 4-0 win over the Cardinals.
Baez started at shortstop and batted ninth, with red-hot rookie Kevin McGonigle covering third and batting leadoff. McGonigle has certainly hit the ground running in his MLB debut and will play short frequently, so Baez will likely need to settle into more of a utility role. So far, the veteran has only seen time at short and second base, but he remains an option to play at third as well as in the outfield. Baez has yet to really get going in 2026, as he's sporting a .513 OPS with no home runs and the single stolen base through five games.
