The Detroit Tigers are holding their breath on Javier Báez after a freak play at first base.
The veteran utility man had to be carted off the field in the fifth inning of Detroit’s game against the Atlanta Braves. The injury occurred on a grounder to Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubon, whose throw to first went wide.
Braves first baseman Matt Olson caught the errant ball and went for the tag on Báez, who tried to twist away from Olson’s glove and ended up sliding late into first with right leg under his body.
Báez was in clear pain and couldn’t put wait on his right foot after the play, leading the Tigers training staff to call in the cart.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch confirmed it was a right ankle injury to reporters after the game, via Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, saying “That one looked scary.” Báez will reportedly undergo imaging on the ankle on Wednesday.
That wasn’t the only injury for the Tigers on Tuesday, as staring pitcher Casey Mize also left the game with right groin tightness in the third inning. He will also undergo imaging on Wednesday.
Both players signaled optimism after the game, via Petzold, with Báez saying he could put weight on his injured ankle again.
Báez is coming off an All-Star season with the Tigers in 2025, though a rough second half brought his numbers down more toward the norms he’s established in his light-hitting Detroit tenure. Still, his defense, versatility and experience provides value for a Tigers team leading the AL Central with a 15-15 record.
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