Javier Báez

Profile Overview

Ednel Javier "Javy" Báez (born December 1, 1992), nicknamed "El Mago" (Spanish for "the Magician"), is a Puerto Rican professional baseball utility player for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. On the international level, he represents the Puerto Rican national team.
Born in Puerto Rico, Báez attended high school in Jacksonville, Florida. The Cubs selected Báez with the ninth overall selection of the 2011 MLB draft. 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 Cubs clinched their 2016 National League pennant en route to winning the 2016 World Series. He is a three-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.