The Detroit Tigers secured their inaugural 1-0 victory on Opening Day in the team’s history against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, with Javier Baez embracing his role as the antagonist.
During his third-inning single, the former Chicago Cubs player appeared to savor the chorus of boos emanating from the southside Chicago fans. He gestured towards the spectators behind the Tigers’ dugout as he made his way to first base.
Baez successfully stole second base, subsequently advancing to third on Parker Meadows’ groundout, and ultimately crossed home plate on Andy Ibanez’s sacrifice fly.
Reflecting on the reception, Baez acknowledged the boos, as reported by Evan Woodbery of MLive:
“To be honest, we hear a lot of boos, but there’s a lot of people that support me, too. I don’t know. It doesn’t make me mad or anything. I feel like it makes me focused.”
Further expanding on his perspective, as conveyed by Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press:
“I always have fun with everybody yelling at me,” Baez remarked. “I should have tried to throw it a little higher, but I did try to throw it to the net. They were yelling good stuff, not so good stuff, but it’s always fun to compete against real fans that really care about you.”
“When you get booed, you don’t want to suck because they’re going to do it louder,” Baez added.
Javier Baez’s Tigers tenure
For the Tigers to make significant strides in 2024, they’ll be relying heavily on shortstop Baez to recapture the form he showcased during his earlier years with the Cubs.
Baez played a pivotal role in Chicago’s 2016 World Series victory, earning a reputation as a dynamic hitter who could also make jaw-dropping defensive plays. His agility and knack for swift tags on base runners set him apart as one of the most exceptional defensive players in recent memory.
However, Baez’s performance dipped notably on both offense and defense during his tenure with the Tigers in 2022 and 2023. The frequent boos from Detroit fans reflect their disappointment, mirroring Baez’s own frustration with his downturn.
During the offseason, Baez focused on improving his core strength and refining his fundamentals in a bid to regain his previous level of play. He admitted to grappling with significant back pain but expressed optimism about his current condition, emphasizing his dedication to staying healthy and honing his skills.
The Tigers are banking on Baez’s restored health and performance to bolster their chances of contention in the competitive AL Central. If his performance mirrors his showing on Opening Day, Detroit stands poised for a successful season, potentially emerging as a dark horse playoff contender.
