What Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez thinks about hearing boos from fans at Comerica Park

Javier Báez cupped his left hand to his ear and looked to the crowd.

He hears the fans.

"I know it's frustrating for the fans," Báez said, "but that doesn't really help the team and the organization. If we grind together, we should stand up together, we should stay together when we're down."

Báez, who has heard boos from a lot of fans and much worse from other fans, asked to hear it from the crowd while jogging around the bases in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park, home of his Detroit Tigers. The 11-year MLB veteran sparked his team's four-run eighth inning with a solo home run to left field off left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar.

OFFSEASON WORK: Tigers' Javier Báez thinks stronger back, core muscles can help revive his career

It was his first homer since Sept. 15 of last season, including 52 plate appearances spring training. It was his first extra-base hit this season, spanning 46 plate appearances. And it was his first time delivering a big home run — what the Tigers pay him to do — in quite some time.

He enjoyed the rare cheers.

"I'm still working," Báez said. "Today, I feel good, and yesterday, I felt good, too. I just got to be consistent with that and take it out there. I've been thinking too much and trying to do too much, but once I slow everything down, it should be good."

Báez, a two-time All-Star shortstop, was one of the worst hitters in baseball in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the first two years of his six-year contract. The 31-year-old is under contract for four more years with the Tigers, paying him $98 million. So far in 2024, Báez is hitting .140 with zero walks and 14 strikeouts across 13 games. He is providing elite defense, but his bat has been worthless.

This isn't easy for Báez.

"It's been frustrating, to be honest," said Báez, who used to be one of the top players in the game. "I've been trying my best for two years, if you want to say it like that. For me, I only care about staying healthy. If I'm healthy, I got no excuses not to do good, and when I do good, everybody is happy. Hopefully, I keep getting better every day and keep seeing the ball better."

JAVY ON SKUBS: Tigers' Tarik Skubal begins Cy Young campaign by bullying White Sox on Opening Day

Báez hasn't struck out in his past three games.

He is 1-for-6 with one home run and one sacrifice fly, but he hasn't struck out. He hit the ball hard three times in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, and in Sunday's comeback win, he picked a sweeper at the bottom rail of the strike zone for a 399-foot home run to left field.

Báez hit the ball with a 100.9 mph exit velocity.

"I felt like that had more launch angle or something," said Báez, who has 27 homers in 293 games with the Tigers. "But yeah, it feels good. Hopefully, my plan keeps working at the plate and I keep seeing the fastball pretty good."

If he keeps hitting, he will hear more cheers — and fewer boos — from the fans in the stands at Comerica Park.

He isn't a stranger to boos.

"I've been booed pretty much my whole career," Báez said.

JEFF SEIDEL: Tigers reaffirm biggest problem with season: They must play perfect to be good

Look no further than what happens when Báez, still a very popular player across the sport, travels to play against the White Sox in Chicago or the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Báez takes on the role of a villain — and thrives — when he is booed by fans of other teams while on the road, but it doesn't feel the same when Tigers fans drag him for his poor performance at home.

"It's not only here," Báez said. "It's happening in other organizations with other players. It doesn't affect me. I don't think it's really respectful when people talk trash and disrespect you behind a net where they can say anything."

On Sunday, though, there were only cheers when Báez took Thielbar deep to left field in the eighth inning, sparking a four-run comeback. His homer led to a pivotal series split against a tough rival in the American League Central.

Báez cupped his hand around his ear to hear the fans, loud and clear.

"If fans boo, it's fine," Báez said. "But if they start saying other stuff and cussing at you, it's different. You've got family out there and you've got kids out there and that's not what they're here for."

Two minutes after saying that, Báez's sons walked into the clubhouse for a normal postgame visit.

They smiled and gave their dad a hug.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez understands the boos; 'I'm still working'