Baez begins his first season with the Ducks and ninth in professional baseball. The right-hander spent parts of the 2018 and 2019 seasons in the Majors with the Detroit Tigers. He combined to make 10 relief appearances in The Show, striking out 10 batters over 15.1 innings of work. His Major League debut came against the New York Yankees on June 4, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. The Dominican Republic native struck out four batters, walked three and did not allow a hit over four and one-third innings of scoreless baseball.

The 28-year-old also spent time at three minor league levels in the Tigers organization during the 2019 season. He combined to make 22 appearances, striking out 22 batters over 27.1 innings. The righty has experience as a starter as well, posting a 3.86 ERA in 17 starts with High-A Lakeland in 2017 and an 8-1 record with a 2.05 ERA in 14 games (10 starts) with the Tigers Dominican Summer League team in 2013. Overall, he has compiled a 4.19 ERA, two saves and 493 strikeouts over 569.1 innings in 145 games (100 starts) during his minor league career. Baez was originally signed by the Tigers as an amateur free agent in 2011.