DETROIT – Javier Baez hit a key home run to spark the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, and then he talked about being booed by the home fans at Comerica Park.
The first few years in Detroit have been difficult for the former All-Star. In 293 career games with the Tigers, Baez has a .227 average and a .623 OPS, with 27 homers, 45 doubles, and 286 strikeouts.
So far this year, he’s batting .140 with 14 strikeouts and no walks in 13 games.
Baez came through on Sunday, though, with the Tigers trailing the division-rival Twins 3-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning. He hit a solo home run that sparked a four-run, game-winning rally.
It was Baez’s first extra-base hit of the season.
While he was rounding the bases, Baez appeared to cup his hand to his ear, as if to say, “Yeah, I hear you.” It was likely in reference to the boos he’s been hearing at Comerica Park.
“I’ve been booed pretty much my whole career,” Báez said, according to Evan Woodbery, of The Athletic. “I know it’s frustrating for the fans, but I think that doesn’t really help the team and the organization. I think if we grind together, we should stand up together. We should stay together when we’re down.”
Baez said the booing doesn’t really affect him, but he finds it disrespectful for fans to talk trash to players from behind a net.
“It doesn’t affect me, to be honest,” Baez said, per Woodbery. I’m just worried about playing good and doing good for my team and my organization. They can do whatever.”
Baez said as long as fans aren’t cussing at players, he doesn’t really have an issue with the heckling.
Baez’s comments about this issue seem reasonable. He hasn’t shied away from his share of the blame over the past two seasons, and he’s not hiding this year, either. I’m sure he’s more frustrated by the struggles than anyone else.
But the fan frustration is also understandable, at least to an extent. Baez has been unproductive since the moment he signed a sign the six-year, $140 million deal with the Tigers before 2022. And the way he struggles only adds to that frustration -- swinging at pitches way out of the strike zone, for example.
The Tigers are off to a 9-6 start, and Baez is going to be the everyday shortstop going forward. Hopefully, he can deliver more moments like Sunday.