CHICAGO — May 1, 2021
The rivalry was already heated. But when Reds pitcher Amir Garrett decided to flex his attitude on the mound, Javier Báez made it clear — he wasn’t going to take it. Not on his field. Not on his watch.
In a wild benches-clearing moment that sent shockwaves across Major League Baseball, Báez exploded out of the dugout like a missile after Garrett struck out Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and unleashed an over-the-top celebration directly toward the Cubs’ dugout. What happened next was pure adrenaline — and pure Báez.
“If you really want to fight, we’ll go one on one,” Báez yelled, pointing directly at Garrett. “I don’t run from anyone.”
This wasn’t the first time Garrett had stirred the pot. Known for his animated mound antics, Garrett has taunted opponents before — but this time, he picked the wrong team, and the wrong man.
Báez, who has long been the emotional heartbeat of the Cubs, didn’t hesitate for a second. The moment he saw Garrett taunting Rizzo, he launched over the rail and sprinted straight at the pitcher, shouting and pointing furiously. Benches cleared. Bullpens emptied. Security scrambled.
Though no punches were thrown, the message was loud and clear: Chicago had had enough.
This blowup wasn’t just about one strikeout — it was about years of brewing tension. Garrett had previously mocked Cubs hitters and engaged in shouting matches with opposing teams. But in this clash, Báez stood up for the team, and fans loved it.
“He disrespected our dugout,” Báez explained postgame. “He’s been doing it. We’re not going to let anyone walk over us.”
Cubs manager David Ross defended his player’s passion, saying, “We don’t want things to escalate — but Javy’s always going to protect his teammates.”
MLB didn’t take the incident lightly. Garrett received a seven-game suspension for inciting the confrontation, while Báez was fined but not suspended, as league officials cited his role as “reactionary.”
Fans, however, weren’t debating penalties — they were rallying behind Báez.
One headline read: “El Mago Defends Wrigley”, as social media exploded with support:
“That’s our guy. Don’t mess with Javy or the Cubs.”
Garrett may have tried to intimidate the Cubs, but he forgot one thing — Javier Báez doesn’t play games when it comes to respect. What began as a celebration turned into a battle of pride, emotion, and loyalty.
The Cubs walked away from that encounter with a renewed sense of unity and fire — and a warning to anyone looking to mess with them:
If you come for the Cubs, you better be ready for El Mago.