DUNEDIN, Fla. — Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez was already in the batting cage, preparing for his spring training debut, when the buses transporting players and coaches arrived at TD Ballpark for Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays .

He hadn't played in a game since Aug. 22.

"I was really excited," said Báez, who commuted roughly 25 miles from his home in Tampa to Dunedin. "There's only one cage here, so I had to get my work done."

Báez, who started at designated hitter, finished 0-for-2 with one walk and one strikeout in his first game of spring training, after rehabbing for the last six months in return from right hip surgery . The 32-year-old will serve as the designated hitter again in Saturday's game in Lakeland against the Philadelphia Phillies before possibly starting at shortstop Monday.

It was an important day for Báez.

"Another healthy day for him," manager A.J. Hinch said after Friday's 10-7 loss to the Blue Jays . "The walk at the end was awesome. It was just fun to see him bouncing around the field, the interaction in the dugout."

The notable news is Báez continues to feel healthy.

Báez has dealt with a nagging lower back injury in parts of the past two seasons, but the arthroscopic surgery on his right hip is expected to alleviate the back pain while allowing him to rotate freely when he swings the bat.

"A little anxious in the first at-bat, but we're working on being ready for that first pitch," Báez said. "I feel good. The rotation is there. I swung and missed at a couple of balls, and the back feels good."

In the first inning, Báez grounded out to the third baseman on a first-pitch 92 mph sinker from Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt . The pitch was located near the middle of the strike zone, so it was a smart swing decision.

But Báez's swing wasn't on time.

"I wanted to hit it hard," Báez said. "I wanted to swing at a good pitch and have good contact. I think I tried to do a little too much. It was almost middle-middle, and I was late on it."

He sprinted to first base.

It was another sign of full health.

"I tried to be a little faster," Báez said, "so I got stuck coming out of the box, but I feel pretty good."

In the third inning, Báez faced right-handed reliever Yariel Rodríguez . He was ahead 3-0 in the count, but then Rodríguez struck him out with three straight strikes.

The three pitches: a fouled-off 94.3 mph fastball in the middle of the zone, a called strike on a 93.8 mph fastball in the same location and a swinging strike on an 84.7 mph slider below the zone.

In the fifth, Báez worked a six-pitch walk against right-handed reliever Ryan Boyer . He laid off pitches outside the strike zone but whiffed on one hanging curveball and fouled off another near the top of the zone.

The walk was a positive way to cap a milestone day in Báez's return from right hip surgery.

"This guy has worked really hard to just get back on the field and be able to participate," Hinch said. "We got to let him get into camp comfortably. It's good to see him on the field again."

In 2024, Báez hit .184 with six home runs, 12 walks and 69 strikeouts across 80 games, posting a .516 OPS. He is owed $73 million over the final three years of his contract, including $25 million in the 2025 season.

He knows he needs to improve on offense.

"We did all the tests," said Báez, referencing the rehabilitation from surgery on his right hip in early September that ended his 2024 season. "I've been swinging 100% in batting practice and in live batting practice. I'm trying to be consistent with my swing now and work on my mechanics."

Báez was one of the first players at the ballpark before Friday's game against the Blue Jays, alongside second baseman Gleyber Torres , a fellow Tampa resident.

He was fine-tuning his swing in the batting cage.

Before arriving early, Báez completed one part of his pregame routine by picking up a coffee from Starbucks on his way to TD Ballpark in Dunedin.

Just like he never left.

"Always," Báez said. "Gotta start with the coffee."

Contact Evan Petzold at or follow him @EvanPetzold .

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