For the first time in his career, Javy Báez took the field against the Cubs Monday night in Detroit.

“El Mago” has spent the last two seasons with the Tigers, where he signed a 6-year, $140 million deal before the 2022 campaign.

A lot has changed since Báez last donned a Cubs uniform July 29, 2021. Only a handful of players are still with the Cubs since that time (Kyle Hendricks, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Adbert Alzolay, Patrick Wisdom, Justin Steele) though David Ross’ coaching staff is still largely intact from that season.

As Báez prepared to face off against his old team, he met with the media in Detroit and reflected back on his time with the Cubs — including his favorite memory (outside of the World Series):

“I think there’s many,” he said. “One of my favorites is the walk-off on Mother’s Day when my mom was there. But winning the World Series and being around all the fans in Chicago, it was really amazing.”

Báez is referencing the walk-off in 2016 when he sent the Cubs home winners in the bottom of the 13th inning with a blast off Washington’s Blake Treinen.

The Cubs improved to 24-6 after Javy Báez hit this walk-off home run on Mother's Day four years ago 💪 pic.twitter.com/FCtxPy5wAl

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 8, 2020

Báez was one of the most popular players among the fanbase during his time in Chicago and he still looks back fondly on how the city treated him.

“I think just the fans, the dedication and the city,” Báez said. “It’s really nice to be around them and all the support they have for you when we played there.”

After spending parts of 8 seasons in Chicago that included a pair of All-Star appearances, a second-place finish in NL MVP voting and a 36 playoff games, Báez is looking to bring that experience to a new club.

“He’s a World Series champion,” Ross said. “He’s forever ingrained in Chicago Cubs history. This guy is a phenomenal player, exciting player. He’s one of those players you buy a ticket to come watch. There’s no telling what might happen with him on a baseball field.

“My mind goes to that Pittsburgh play where he somehow grounded out and we scored a run. Exciting player, friend, World Series brother. Just a phenomenal dude.”

Báez understood where the Cubs were at in July 2021 when he was traded away along with Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.

“That changed everything,” he said. “What can I say? We obviously had different ways to go and now we have different things to care about like this team and trying to show the guys the right way to be leaders. Hopefully we’re showing the right way where we’re at.”

Relive some of Báez’s top moments with the Cubs: