Detroit Tigers shortstop, Javier Baez, was benched during Thursday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays after making multiple baserunning errors (USAToday). Baez forgot how many outs were left in the inning and ran out on a routine fly ball, ultimately leading to his removal from the game (CBS Sports). This was not the first disappointing performance from Baez, who has been struggling in his second year with the Tigers (Sports Illustrated).
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch justified Baez’s benching as a “message” to the team that errors and mental lapses will not be tolerated (AP News). Hinch also mentioned that Baez’s large contract, worth $140 million over six years, does not give him immunity from being benched (Detroit Sports Nation).
Fans have been critical of Baez’s performance, with some even comparing his mistake to that of a little leaguer (Sports Illustrated). There have also been discussions about whether the Tigers have any way out of Baez’s contract given his lackluster performance (FanSided).
However, Baez remains optimistic and determined to improve. During a recent interview, he made a “No Duh” comment when asked about his intention to bounce back (Detroit Sports Nation). Despite the recent setbacks, Baez has the potential to become a valuable asset for the Tigers if he can improve his performance on the field.
