Now for his next trick: Magician Javier Báez snags run for the Tigers

Q: What did Javier Báez do to be called 'El Mago' during the Tigers game?

Javier Báez earned the nickname 'El Mago' by performing an impressive play where he was initially called out at home plate but successfully challenged the call and was ruled safe.

Q: How did the challenge play unfold for Javier Báez in the game against the Royals?

Báez was called out at home after a throw from the outfield, but he challenged the decision, and video review showed he touched home plate before being tagged.

Q: What was the outcome of the review for Javier Báez's play at home plate?

The review confirmed that Javier Báez was safe at home plate, overturning the initial out call made by the umpire.

Detroit — He's "El Mago." The Magician.

And Javier Báez showed off some sleight-of-hand for the ages in Wednesday night's Tigers game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park.

Báez was on third base with one out in the bottom of the third inning when Jake Rogers hit a flyball to deep right field, where Jac Caglianone caught it and threw a seed home to catcher Salvador Perez. The ball beat Báez by a wide margin, and he was called out by plate umpire Jansen Visconti.

But Báez popped right up and asked for the challenge, and upon further review, he was safe — when he lifted his left hand over Perez's glove and plopped it down on home plate before the glove got him.

The Comerica Park crowd cheered loudly when it saw the replay on the videoboard. Báez was called safe, giving the Tigers, winners of four straight, the early 1-0 lead.

Sitting in the dugout after the call was announced, Báez paid a little homage to wrestling legend John Cena, flashing the "You can't see me" hand motion over his face.

Báez was on third base after he laced a double to the right-field corner, where Caglianone started a perfect relay to home, where Perez made an impressive stretch to get Zach McKinstry at the plate. McKinstry was originally called safe, but that call also was overturned.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Javier Báez uses sweet slide to score run vs. Royals