Jami Thompson
Ednel Javier Báez, nicknamed “El Mago,” is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He formerly played in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets. Báez was born in Puerto Rico and went to high school in Jacksonville, Florida.
Early Life, Family, and Education
El Mago of Major League Baseball, Javier Báez was born on December 1, 1992, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and then transferred to Florida, USA, in 2005. Angel Luis Baez and Nelida Agosto gave birth to him.
Angel Luis Báez, the player’s father, had a strong effect on him and was responsible for his baseball passion. Regarding his nationality, he is Puerto Rican and of mixed heritage.
Rolando Báez, Gadiel Báez, and Noely Báez are Báez’s three siblings. Noely Báez, his younger sibling and only sister, died in 2015. In addition, Gadiel Baez, Javier’s younger brother, is also a baseball player.
The Cubs player, on the other hand, attended Arlington Country Day School and dedicated himself to playing collegiate football.
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Baseball Career
Back in high school, Báez’s coach knew that scouts did not regard him as an enticing prospect. Nonetheless, his diligence and work ethic distinguished him as a top candidate.
Furthermore, it was during his sophomore season that his curves began to rise. During that period, he had a.463 batting average and 38 hits, with 9 doubles and 13 home runs.
He also had 60 runs batted in (RBI) in 82 plate appearances in 25 games.
Furthermore, Báez broke all of his previous marks entering his senior season. During this season, he had 64 hits in 83 at-bats, for an average of.771.
These hits comprised 20 doubles and 20 home runs, totaling 52 RBIs in 30 games. However, he was selected ninth overall by the Chicago Cubs in 2011.
While Javier was progressing, he maintained his form with Single-A Peoria, where he had a hitting average of.333. As a result, he was promoted to Single-A Daytona.
He was named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Month for July after hitting.368 with seven home runs and 20 RBI in 28 games.
Later, he began his competitive career as a shortstop for the Arizona Cubs of the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he appeared in three games and had three hits, including two doubles in 12 at-bats, as well as two stolen bases. He also appeared in Single-A Boise.
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MLB Debut and Career
Báez made his MLB debut in 2014 after being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2011. He hit the game-winning first home run of his career on the day of his debut.
Later that season, he appeared 52 times at shortstop, averaging.169 with 20 RBI, nine home runs, and five stolen bases.
Even yet, after an amazing start to his MLB career, he struggled throughout spring training. As a result, he was offered to Iowa for that season, where he averaged.324 in 70 games. He was then recalled to the main leagues in September.
He rose to prominence in 2016 after providing match-winning efforts for the Cubs. The versatile outfielder smashed two solo home runs to help his team win a four-game series against the Washington Nationals.
It beats the San Francisco Giants in the 2016 National League Division Series playoff. He also hit a grand slam in the game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Furthermore, the great player was instrumental in the Cubs’ 2016 National League Championship Series victory.
He was voted co-MVP of the National League Championship Series after hitting.318 with 5 RBI, four doubles, and two stolen bases in the series.
Later that year, the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, winning his first world series championship and ending the Cubs’ 108-year World Series trophy drought.
Following that, he was chosen to the 2018 and 2019 All-Star teams. In each season, Baez had a batting average.294 and.333, respectively. During the 2019 All-Star season, he hit his 100th career home run.
Injuries
Throughout his career, Baez has been troubled by multiple ailments. He apparently initially suffered a back issue while playing for the Iowa Cubs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL).
Similarly, Baez missed a few days of intervals in 2015 owing to a damaged thumb.
Baez suffered another hairline fracture in his left thumb during the 2019 season. Following that, he was sidelined for several days by an elbow ailment.
Similarly, Baez was diagnosed with a bruise during a game against the Cleveland Indians in March 2021.
Awards and Achievements
- Won 2016 National League Championship Series
- Won 2016 World Series
- 2016 NLCS co-MVP
- 2017 World Baseball Classic runner-up
- Two times MLB All-Star in 2018 and 2019
- 2017 All-World Baseball Classic team
- Fielding Bible Award(Multi-Position) in 2016, 2017, 2018
- The Silver Slugger Award in 2018
Salary, Net Worth
According to reports, Báez’s one-year contract paid him $5.2 million.
In addition, in 2020, he signed a long-term contract extension through 2026 that included a guaranteed $10 million payment every year lockdown player. This would translate to an annual compensation of about $23 million.
For the time being, his net worth for 2021 is $10 million.
Furthermore, Baez’s contract is scheduled to be extended sometime this year, and with it, he is expected to make modifications totaling roughly $24 million.
Age, Height, and Weight
Javier’s body is extremely outstanding for an athlete. He is 6 feet tall, which is ideal for a baseball player. Moving on to how much Javier weighs, he weighs 189.5 pounds (approx.)
He will be 29 years old on December 1, 2021. He has multiple tattoos on his shoulders, back, and arms, as shown below.
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Wife and Children
A baseball player is a lucky man who married his high school girlfriend. Yes, Javier was married for a long time to his long-term girlfriend, now wife, Irmarie Márquez, before getting engaged in 2018.
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In 2019, the pair married in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
This couple had a boy on June 28, 2018, only months after getting engaged in April of that year. Adrián Javier Báez Márquez, their son, will turn two years old on June 28, 2020.
Meanwhile, Javier said that the couple was expecting their second child in the near future. He took to Instagram to share a gorgeous photo of his son.
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Social Media Presence
Javier is a rather active social media user. On Instagram, he has over 1.4 million followers which is filled with adorable pictures of his son and wife.
In addition, he is active on Twitter and Facebook. Baez has more than 500 thousand Twitter followers and slightly more than 420 thousand Facebook likes.
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Some FAQ’s
Which bats and gloves do Javier Baez use?
Javier Baez uses a Marucci GJ5 maple bat with an Evoshield elbow guard. We can also locate him with a Dove Tail 356 birch bat and an SSK JB9 birch bat.
Is Javier Baez a Gold Glover?
Yes, Javier Baez has a Gold Glove from the 2020 National League Gold Glove Award. Baez was apparently the first Cubs shortstop to get the award since Don Kessinger in 1970.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Ednel Javier Báez |
| Birth Date | December 1, 1992 |
| Birth Place | Bayamon, Puerto Rico |
| Nickname | El Mago |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Education | Arlington Country Day School (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| Father’s Name | Angel Luis Baez |
| Mother’s Name | Nelida Agosto |
| Siblings | Rolando Báez, Gadiel Báez, Noely Báez |
| Wife | Irmarie Márquez |
| Son | Adrián Javier Báez Márquez |
| Profession | Baseball Player |
| Height(approx.) | 1.829m |
| Weight(approx.) | 189.5 lbs |
| Hair color | Light Brown and Blonde |
| Eye color | Dark Brown |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Current Team | Chicago Cubs |
| Debut | MLB- 2014 International League- 2017 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Net Worth | $10 million (approx.) |
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