Tigers Receive Unfortunate Javier Baez News During Rays Series
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez has suffered a setback in his recovery from a right high ankle sprain, leaving the club facing even more uncertainty about when the veteran will return to the lineup. According to Detroit News reporter Chris McCosky, Báez met with an ankle specialist on Monday after his recovery failed to progress as expected.
Following that evaluation, the Tigers decided to shut him down from all baseball activities. The setback comes more than a month after Báez suffered the injury on April 28. He rolled his right ankle while trying to avoid a tag at first base and had to leave the game on a cart.
Since then, the Tigers have taken a cautious approach, hoping rest and treatment would reduce the symptoms enough for him to begin a return-to-play program. That process recently started, but Báez continued to feel discomfort in the ankle.
As a result, Detroit paused his recovery plan and sent him for further evaluation. Manager A.J. Hinch said the injury has proven difficult to manage because high ankle sprains often heal more slowly than traditional ankle injuries. Hinch added that the specialist did not find any structural damage.
Javier Baez saw an ankle specialist yesterday and he's been shut down from baseball activities again. It's a high ankle sprain. Nothing fractured or broken. But it's not responding to treatment.
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) June 2, 2026
Báez did not suffer a fracture or broken bone, but the ankle has not responded to treatment as quickly as the Tigers hoped. The manager also declined to offer a timeline for when Báez might resume baseball activities.
The Tigers hoped he would begin working his way back to the field by now, but this latest setback means the club will have to wait longer before getting one of its most experienced players back in the lineup. Before the injury, Báez hit .256 with a .670 OPS through 25 games. He recorded 20 hits in 78 at-bats, including four doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs.
He also scored nine runs while playing multiple positions, including center field, shortstop and second base. The injury interrupted what had been one of his best forms since joining Detroit.
After starring for the Cubs and a brief stint in Queens through the 2021 season, and having once finished second in the National League MVP voting, Báez signed a six-year, $140 million contract before the 2022 season. The 33-year-old has battled inconsistency throughout much of his Tigers tenure.
Across five seasons with Detroit entering this year, Báez owns a .230 batting average, .268 on-base percentage and .361 slugging percentage in 510 games. He earned an All-Star selection in 2025, but injuries and offensive struggles have limited his overall impact.
The Tigers also continue monitoring another injured infielder. Trey Sweeney, who has dealt with a right shoulder strain since Spring Training, recently underwent further medical evaluation after his recovery stalled.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 7:01 AM.