Detroit shortstop Baez plays for Toledo to begin rehab stint

Former All-Star and World Series champion shortstop Javier Baez made his first minor-league appearance since 2016 on Tuesday when he joined the Toledo Mud Hens to start a rehab stint.

Baez batted second as the designated hitter against the Columbus Clippers at Fifth Third Field, going 1 for 2 with a walk, a single, and a popout in the Mud Hens’ 5-2 victory. He scored a run in the first inning after getting aboard with the walk. Dillon Dingler replaced Baez in the sixth inning.

Baez will remain with the Mud Hens for Wednesday night’s matchup with Columbus. The Mud Hens are throwing a rock-and-roll-themed Independence Day celebration, with a postgame concert and fireworks on Wednesday.

Baez, 31, who starred with the Chicago Cubs and was a part of their 2016 World Series-winning team, has struggled at the plate since joining the Detroit Tigers in 2022. His batting average dropped from .238 in 2022 to .222 last year and .183 so far this season, all well below his career average of .252. He has been out since June 8 with a lower-back injury.

"He's got to do a lot of things for him to be deemed ready to come back to the big leagues,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday. “It's exciting to get him back in a game. He's been pushing for this for a couple of days, which is a good sign. That means he feels good."

The Hens are now off to a 4-4 start to the second half of the International League season. Columbus won 5-3 on Monday to open this week’s set of in-state clashes, which continues with three games in Columbus from Thursday-Saturday.

"He'll play some back-to-back games, and then we'll see kind of where he's at,” Hinch said of Baez.