Javier Baez gets a warm welcome back from Cubs fans in an emotional return to Wrigley

It had been three years (1,118 days) since Javier Baez last played at Wrigley Field before he stepped into the Friendly Confines Tuesday afternoon. Since being part of the big selloff of 2021, the former Chicago Cubs hero spent two months with the Mets before signing a mega-deal with the Detroit Tigers ahead of the 2022 season.

While he has played several games on the South Side against the Tigers' division rival White Sox over the past few years, it was the long-awaited homecoming for El Mago on the North Side. As expected, fans and former teammates showered him with all the love. The staff even put an "El Mago" nameplate for his locker in the visitor's clubhouse.

During the pregame warmups, pockets of fans already in the park were chanting, "Javy! Javy!" and Baez himself got to catch up with former teammate Kyle Hendricks on the field. He took the time to speak on the Marquee Network pregame show (with former teammate Dexter Fowler), talking about his 2016 World Series tattoo and taking his ring with him everywhere. He also told CHGO reporter Ryan Herrera he thinks about 2016, "all the time" while being interviewed in the dugout by the press.

To all the fans out there, especially here in Chicago, thank you.

Tuesday marked an emotional evening for Javier Baez, Cubs fans alike

The moment people were waiting for was the pregame video montage on the outfield videoboards. Baez came out of the dugout and tipped his cap to a roaring ovation from all the fans at Wrigley Field after the montage concluded. Ovations were not done, as the fans stood and cheered again as he stepped up to the plate.

It is no secret that Baez has struggled mightily the past few years, and he is owed a lot of money from the Tigers. He has not been greeted with many cheers recently, but all the love he got Tuesday night was well-deserved for what he did as a Cub. The same player who hit big postseason homers, was an NLCS co-MVP, two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger, Gold Glover, NL MVP runner-up and World Series champion in Chicago. He will always be a fan favorite on the North Side for what he did in a Cubs uniform.