Javier Báez

Ednel Javier "Javy" Báez (born December 1, 1992), nicknamed "El Mago" (Spanish for "the Magician"), is a Puerto Rican professional baseball infielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

On the international level, he represents the Puerto Rican national team.

Born in Puerto Rico, Báez attended high school in Jacksonville, Florida.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Báez moved to Florida in 2005 along with his mother and siblings, two brothers and a sister.

The move was so that his sister, Noely, could get medical treatment for her spina bifida condition.

In Puerto Rico he and his two brothers, Gadiel and Rolando, became familiar with the sport through their father, Ángel Luis Báez who, before his death when Javier was ten, heavily influenced their life and was responsible for their interest in baseball.

The brothers would later immortalize this interest by getting tattoos of Major League Baseball's logo, which symbolized that "baseball has been in [their] lives forever."

As a middle school student, it took time for Báez to adapt because he was unable to fluently speak or understand English.

Báez eventually learned the language through trial and error in a process that lasted for three years, memorizing words before knowing their actual meaning.

Báez attended Arlington Country Day School (ACD) in Jacksonville, Florida.

His coach at ACD, Ron Dickerson, noted that initially scouts were not impressed by him, noting his talent, but not believing he could become a star.

Dickerson emphasized that Báez's work ethic was responsible for positioning him as a real prospect.

As a sophomore, he had a .463 batting average with 38 hits, of which nine were doubles and 13 were home runs.

Making 82 plate appearances in 25 games, he also gathered 60 runs batted in (RBIs).

By the time his junior season was over, Báez was a highly rated Aflac All-American.

In his senior season, he recorded 64 hits in 83 at-bats to gather an average of .771, which included 20 doubles and 10 home runs.

In total, Báez recorded 52 RBIs in 30 games.

During his time at ACD, he never played a position steadily.

After working at second base, Báez was moved to shortstop once the team lost a player.

Besides these positions, he also played as a center fielder and as a catcher.

He committed to play college baseball at Jacksonville University.

The Cubs selected Báez with the ninth overall selection of the 2011 MLB draft.

The Chicago Cubs, led by Jim Hendry, selected Báez in the first round, with the ninth overall selection, of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.

He began his professional career by playing shortstop for the Arizona Cubs of the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he only played in three games, recording three hits, including two doubles, in 12 at-bats and two stolen bases.

Promoted to the Boise Hawks of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, Báez recorded one single in six at bats across two games.

On September 29, 2011, he was selected third overall by the Leones de Ponce in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente's (LBPRC) rookie draft, but did not play due to the Cubs' limitations.

Before the 2012 season, MLB.com rated Báez as the 62nd-best prospect in baseball.

He remained with the Cubs in extended spring training with other prospects, participating in 26 games and hitting 6 doubles, 3 triples, and 8 home runs, with 28 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 23 strikeouts in 94 plate appearances.

He made his regular season debut with the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League.

He was promoted to the Daytona Cubs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL).

Baseball America included Báez in two of its "Best Tools" lists, naming him the "Most Exciting Player in the Midwest League" and the "Best Defensive Infielder" in the Chicago Cubs system.

Before the 2013 season, MLB.com rated Báez as the 16th-best prospect in baseball.

The Cubs invited him to join their major league team in spring training, competing in the Cactus League.

Báez hit four home runs in five at-bats over the course of two games, including in an unofficial exhibition game against the Japanese national baseball team that was preparing for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

He concluded spring training with a .298 batting average and 10 RBIs.

He made his MLB debut in 2014 and played for the Cubs for eight years before he was traded to the Mets in 2021.

After the 2021 season, he entered free agency where he then signed a six-year contract with the Tigers.

Báez was named the National League Championship Series co-MVP alongside left-handed starter Jon Lester as the Chicago Cubs clinched their 2016 National League pennant en route to winning the 2016 World Series.

He is a two-time All-Star, as well as a Gold Glove Award, and Silver Slugger Award winner.

He is also the cover athlete for MLB The Show 20.