Another El Mago moment: How Javier Báez made 'arguably the best defensive play of the year'

DENVER — Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez was responsible for fielding errors in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Both came on ground balls that forced Báez to move to his left, toward second base.

Báez takes pride in his defense.

"I wasn't being lazy," Báez said. "I'm trying to be the best I can be."

The 30-year-old, a former Gold Glove winner, watched videos of his defensive plays and discovered the problem. That led to some early work with assistant coaches Alfredo Amézaga and Gary Jones before Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

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"I thought I was getting (to the ball) a little too late," Báez said, diagnosing the issue. "I went out there and did my routine a little earlier and prepared a little earlier and reacted to the ball a little earlier."

Báez, who ranks in the 98th percentile for outs above average, put his adjustment on display in the third inning of Saturday's 4-2 win. Manager A.J. Hinch described what happened as "arguably the best defensive play of the year."

Rockies leadoff hitter Jurickson Profar hit a ground ball with an 87 mph exit velocity into the open space between third base and shortstop, leading to one of El Mago's greatest tricks to date. Báez took three quick steps to his right — angled toward the outfield grass — before a full-extension leap toward the ball.

Somehow, Báez got his glove on it.

"The ball was really far, and I didn't know if I was going to get to it," Báez said. "After that first step, I thought I had a chance and just went for it. (The ball) bounced, so I had to jump up."

"It was sick," first baseman Spencer Torkelson said.

Not only did Báez snag the ball, but once he hit the ground, he immediately jumped to his feet and fired a one-hopper to Torkelson at first base. The Tigers had practiced throwing to first base on one bounce to compensate for the angle of the sun from the left-field corner limiting Torkelson's vision at first.

Báez executed the entire play to perfection.

"It's the attention to detail on every play, being in good position, making sure he gets a good first step, reads the first hop well," Hinch said. "That's what translates into the outs that he gets. When he's late, or when he lays back, he can put his body in a bad position, and that's when we see the errors."

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In 2023, Báez ranks 13th among 257 qualified defenders — and third among 39 qualified shortstops — with seven outs above average. His stellar defense has prevented five runs throughout the season.

That's a positive because his offense has been abysmal.

"I don't take my offense to my defense," Báez said. "Maybe sometimes if the frustration is hard to get rid of, and sometimes I do, but most of the time, I separate the defense and the offense because you can change the game in both ways."

Entering Sunday's game, Báez is hitting .223 with five home runs, 12 walks and 75 strikeouts through 78 games. His .583 on-base-plus-slugging percentage has been worse than last year's disappointing .671 OPS.

The 60 wRC+ ranks last among 153 qualified hitters.

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In the first inning Sunday, however, Báez blasted a first-pitch slider from right-hander Connor Seabold for a 402-foot grand slam to left field, boosting his total to six homers in 79 games.

Maybe the eighth grand slam in his 10-year MLB career will spark an alignment of his offense and defense.

"I'm just trying to see the ball," Báez said. "I think I'm turning too much. I gotta get that trust again and take off in the second half. If we do good, and I do better, I think we're going to take off and play much better."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez made 'the best defensive play of the year'