After three long months, Javier Baez finally returned to Comerica Park, the home stadium of the Detroit Tigers, with an emotional reunion that marked the end of a grueling recovery period.
Baez had been waiting to get back on the field, but the injury to his ankle had other plans. Initially, the Tigers believed he would heal quickly, but the process became complicated once he started increasing the intensity of his rehab work.
Baez admitted that there were days when the ankle felt strong, followed by moments when it became clear he was not ready. "It was tough, man. I've been trying to get back as soon as possible. Sometimes I would feel really good, but when I tried to put a little pressure on my ankle during rehab, it was not ready yet," he said.
The uncertainty stretched the recovery to nearly three months, a period that was especially difficult for a player like Baez who has built his career around instinct, movement, and emotion.
The injury could have been much worse, with Baez's biggest concern being that the ankle had been fractured. "I was surprised it wasn't fractured. That was my biggest concern. If I needed surgery, I was going to lose the year, and my plan was to avoid that," he said.
Baez's confidence returned once he began testing the ankle during games in Lakeland and with Triple-A Toledo. "I played a couple of games in Triple-A and in Lakeland. It was a slow process, but as soon as I started playing, I made a couple of plays that tested my ankle, and it responded pretty well," he said.
The veteran player's return was about more than just getting activated from the injured list – it was the end of a recovery that tested his patience and reminded him how much he missed the game.
Baez has accomplished plenty during his career, but three months away reminded him how much he still values the daily rhythm of baseball. "I just love being out there, man. With the situation in baseball and what could happen next year with the league and the games, we don't know what is going to happen. I was just trying to get back out here, have fun, and help the team," he said.
Baez believes he can lift the Tigers, who have been struggling this season. "I've been watching the games, and I've seen all the ups and downs. I think this team and this group have a good chance to keep getting better, play better, and get that feeling of winning again. We have that feeling, and we always have. We just have to keep playing like a winning team," he said.
The Tigers will need Baez's energy and aggression on the field if they want to turn their season around. With his return, Baez has no interest in waiting another day – he's back where he wants to be, wearing a Tigers uniform and trying to help Detroit rediscover its winning edge.
Source: Yahoo Sports