Javier Báez injury update: 'Significant' ankle sprain sidelines veteran
· Yahoo Sports
ATLANTA – The Detroit Tigers will be without Javier Báez for a while.
The 33-year-old shortstop/center fielder landed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, April 29, with a right ankle sprain before the second of three games against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.
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"It's a significant ankle sprain," manager A.J. Hinch said before Wednesday's game. "I don't know what that means in terms of timeline."
The injury happened in the fifth inning of Tuesday's 5-2 loss, when Báez tried to avoid a tag while running to first base. He left the ballpark Tuesday in a boot on his right foot.
Báez isn't eligible to return to the Tigers until May 9 and the team called up infielder Jace Jung to replace him.
"If he's back by then, great," Hinch said. "If it takes longer, it's because of swelling and soreness."
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Javy Baez left the game on a cart after this slide into first base pic.twitter.com/hEFcZX3MVP
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 29, 2026
In 2026, Báez is hitting .256 with two home runs, two walks and 16 strikeouts over 24 games, opting a .678 OPS. He has spent 129⅓ innings at shortstop, 53 innings in center field and 15⅔ innings at second base.
The 13-year MLB veteran is in the second-to-last season of a six-year, $140 million contract, which he signed with the Tigers in December 2022.
Báez is owed $24 million in both 2026 and 2027.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Javier Báez injury update: A.J. Hinch says 'significant' ankle sprain