Javier BáezDET · 2B/3B/SS/OF

2026 review

Javier Báez was a low-walk, high-strikeout utility infielder whose year was cut in half by injury: .241/.270/.364 with a 20.9 K% and a 3.1 BB% over 196 PA in 58 games for DET, with 3 HR and 20 RBI. A right ankle sprain put him on the 10-day IL Apr 29, he was transferred to the 60-day IL Jun 11, took a rehab assignment on Jul 21 and Jul 25, and was activated Jul 28, missing 90 regular-season days. Taken in 417 of 674 drafts at ADP rank 463, he finished 1054th of 1472 in the TDK LABS 5x5 value rank, 591 spots below his ADP rank, and 43rd of 61 shortstops. His .277 wOBA ran 11 points above his .266 xwOBA over 196 PA. He hit .256 over 78 AB before the IL stint and .229 over 109 AB after he came back, and his best month was Apr at .269 over 67 AB against .185 over 65 AB in Aug. By mid-Jun the TDK LABS card still had him sidelined with the ankle sprain, and by late Sep it described him as a marginal utility bat with weak contact and a short bench role.

NFBC position eligibility · 2026: 2B/3B/SS/OF · 2027: 2B/SS/OF