Báez to undergo season-ending hip surgery
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CHICAGO -- Javier Báez’s 2024 season is over.
Báez will undergo season-ending arthroscopic right hip surgery next week, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced before Monday’s series finale against the White Sox, marking the end of a tough third season for the shortstop in Detroit.
“We’ve got to get him right,” Hinch said. “I don't know anybody that's going to go through hip surgery that [would say] that's something to look forward to. But I do think that's a huge step in getting him back to being able to rotate the way that he talks about that he can't, and getting him to fire the way that he can’t and to get back with his agility and mobility.
“It'll be a long process, but hopefully it'll be a successful one.”
Báez approached Hinch on Thursday about lingering back and hip issues, and the 31-year-old was sent back to Detroit for testing. He went on the 10-day IL on Friday with lumbar spine/hip inflammation, and the Tigers transferred him to the 60-day IL on Monday.
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Báez missed close to a month with lumbar spine inflammation earlier this season, after landing on the IL on June 11. He played 80 games this season and slashed .184/.221/.294 with six homers, 37 RBIs and a career-low 44 OPS+.
The 2024 season also marked a continuation of Báez’s offensive struggles since he signed a six-year deal with the Tigers on Dec. 1, 2021. He has slashed .221/.262/.347 over three seasons with Detroit, with 32 home runs, 163 RBIs and 341 strikeouts in 360 games.
“Obviously, getting him healthy is the No. 1 priority,” Hinch said. “For him and his own health, and obviously, to get the best player out of him, we need him healthy. It's no doubt that it's been a really tough stretch for him in his career, and a really tough stretch as a Tiger. But it doesn't mean that it can’t change.
“I hope for him and for us that this does bring some clarity, this does get him back to good health and gets him back to performing the way that we know that he can and will.”
With Báez sidelined, the Tigers will get an even greater look at Trey Sweeney (No. 20 prospect) at shortstop down the stretch. They recalled Sweeney from Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 16, and he has hit .211 (4-for-19) in six games. Zach McKinstry also offers depth at short, where he has made 43 appearances this season.