Javier Báez

Background

Ednel Javier Báez was born in Puerto Rico, where he was raised. He moved to Florida in 2005 with his mother and siblings. Báez learned how to play baseball through his father, who died when he was 10. In Florida, Báez enrolled in middle school but found it hard to adapt due to his inability to speak English. He eventually learned the language and attended Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Florida. As a high school sophomore, Báez had a .463 batting average and in his senior year, he was at .771. After high school, he was admitted to Jacksonville University.

In the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, the Chicago Cubs selected Báez in the first round. However, he began his professional career as a shortstop for the Arizona Cubs with whom he only played three games. Before the 2013 season, he was rated the 16th-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com. In August 2014, Báez made his Major League debut, hitting his first career home run in a victory against the Colorado Rockies. In his first All-Star season in 2018, Báez hit his 13th home run of the year, becoming the first Chicago Cubs player since Derrek Lee with at least 40 R.B.Is before Memorial Day. In September of that year, he hit his 30th home run of the year with 100 R.B.Is. In his second All-Star season in 2019, Báez hit his 100th career home run. In July 2021, he got traded to the New York Mets. He made his debut at the end of the month against the Cincinnati Reds. By December of that year, he signed a six-year $140 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. He debuted for the Tigers in April 2022.

Even though he is a successful athlete, Báez keeps his personal affairs private. He married his longtime girlfriend Irmarie Márquez in 2019, and they have two kids together. Báez shares his success with friends and family.