Javy Báez flashed his patented smile early and often Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field.

Cubs fans cheered when he jogged across the field during pregame warm-ups. They cheered when his name was announced in the starting lineup. They cheered when he dug into the batter’s box for the first time.

They cheered anytime he did anything, really.

There were dozens – maybe hundreds – of No. 9 Cubs jerseys with Báez plastered on the back throughout the ballpark.

Fans held up signs saying things like, “Welcome home Javy” or “Javy 4 ever a Cubbie.”

One kid wore a white T-shirt that had “Javy Báez is the GOAT” scrawled on it in red marker.

It was certainly a day of nostalgia, as it was Báez’s first time back at the corner of Clark and Addison since the middle of 2021.

It has been 8 years since the Cubs won the World Series but that 2016 team was casting a very large shadow over Wrigley Field Tuesday afternoon.

Báez enjoyed catching up with his World Series-winning teammates Kyle Hendricks and Dexter Fowler. The video board tribute displayed a slew of Báez’s highlights from that 2016 season.

As he met with the media, he fielded question after question about the ’16 Cubs.

And finally, Báez was asked how often he thinks about that team and that fateful season.

He paused for a moment and then said:

“Probably every day, to be honest. I got a tattoo of the trophy. So that’s always going to be special. I still got the ring. I always try to take it everywhere so nobody steals it.

“But it’s always there, always on my mind. I always try and remember that year. The way we played, it was like we weren’t afraid of anyone, especially the other team.”

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Shortly before Báez met with the Chicago media, one of his biggest fans sat over in the Cubs dugout and fielded questions.

“I loved watching Javy play here,” Jed Hoyer said. “…I thought his fearlessness was his greatest attribute. Any moment, he didn’t care. He wanted the big stage.”

Hoyer reflected back on some of his favorite memories of Báez, like the home run off Johnny Cueto to win Game 1 of the 2016 NLDS. Or the time Báez broke the Pirates with a never-before-seen magic trick.

“He’s a special player and a special entertainer,” Hoyer said. “I don’t like the way this chapter of his career has gone for him – I know he’s struggled.

“I have super fond memories of him. He helped us win a lot of games here and as a result, he’ll always be a fan favorite.”

[WATCH: Jed Hoyer’s full pregame media scrum]

As Cubs fans all know now, Báez was traded away during that 2021 trade deadline sell-off. He, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo had to adjust to new teams and environments after helping end the longest championship drought in American sports history.

Things have been tough for Báez since. He signed a 6-year, $140 million deal with the Detroit Tigers and has not put up typical Báez-like numbers nearly halfway through the deal (.221 AVG, .611 OPS).

Now 31, he joked that he feels “young in life and old in baseball.”

As he reflected back on his 8 years with the Cubs, Báez referenced his stellar 2018 team when he led the NL in RBI (111) and finished 2nd in MVP voting.

But he still acknowledges 2016 was the most fun he’s ever had playing baseball.

“Yeah, to be honest,” he said. “2018 and 2019, I had really good seasons. They were special for me. Having the respect and the support and that little pressure from your teammates is always good. It makes you better.

“I always looked up to Rizzo. Playing short and making throws, he was making sure that I was throwing high to his chest. I always had that pressure to be good for him and for the whole team.”