SUPRISING:Tigers activate shortstop Javier Baez from the 10-day injured list
After missing nearly a month due to lumbar spine inflammation, Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez was activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday.
Baez, 31, returned to the starting lineup and batted seventh for the series opener against the visiting Cleveland Guardians. He notched one hit in Detroit’s 1-0 victory over Cleveland.
To make room on the 26-man roster, the Tigers optioned infielder Ryan Kreidler to Triple-A Toledo. Outfielder Akil Badoo was recalled from Toledo after outfielder Parker Meadows was placed on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain.
Baez, who last played for the Tigers on June 8, started a rehab stint with Toledo on July 2, hitting .333 with one RBI in four games. In 53 games this season with Detroit, Baez is batting .183 with one home run and 25 RBIs.
Over his 11 seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2014-21), New York Mets (2021), and Tigers, Baez has a .252 batting average with 176 home runs and 616 RBIs in 1,195 games. The two-time All-Star was a first-round pick by the Cubs (No. 9 overall) in the 2011 draft.