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Akil Baddoo

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Akil Baddoo
Baddoo with the Toledo Mud Hens in 2022
Detroit Tigers – No. 60
Outfielder
Born: (1998-08-16) August 16, 1998 (age 26)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 4, 2021, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.226
Home runs28
Runs batted in103
Stolen bases42
Teams

Akil Neomon Baddoo (born August 16, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Early life

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Baddoo was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, to parents John and Akilah. His father's family is originally from Ghana and his mother's family is from Trinidad and Tobago.[1][2][3][4] He was educated and played varsity baseball at Salem High School in Conyers, Georgia.[5]

Career

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Minnesota Twins

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Baddoo was drafted out of high school by the Minnesota Twins in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. After two seasons in Twins' rookie leagues, he was assigned to the Class A Cedar Rapids Kernels for the 2018 season. In 113 games, Baddoo hit .243 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI and 24 stolen bases.[5] He moved up to the Class A+ Fort Myers Miracle for the 2019 season, but played only 29 games before requiring Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.[6]

Detroit Tigers

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On December 10, 2020, the Detroit Tigers selected Baddoo with the third pick in the Rule 5 draft.[7][8][6] Baddoo made the team's 2021 Opening Day roster after hitting .325 with five home runs in the spring training season.[9]

He made his major league debut on April 4, hitting a home run in his first at-bat, on the first pitch he saw from Cleveland Indians starter Aaron Civale.[10][11] Baddoo became the ninth player in Tigers' franchise history to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, and only the second to do so on the first pitch, following George Vico, who accomplished the feat in 1948.[11] The following day, Baddoo hit his first career grand slam off of Randy Dobnak of the Minnesota Twins. He became the first player in franchise history to hit a home run in his first two career games and the first player in MLB history to do so from the ninth spot in the batting order.[12]

On April 6, Baddoo recorded his first career walk-off hit, a tenth-inning RBI single off of Twins closer Hansel Robles to give the Tigers a 4–3 victory. He became the first Tiger with a walk-off hit within his first three major league games since Gabe Alvarez in 1998 and the first MLB player since at least 1900 with two homers, including a grand slam, and a walk-off hit in his first three career games.[13] On April 13, Baddoo recorded his fourth home run of the season. He became the first player in franchise history to post four homers and 10 RBIs within his first eight games, and the first major league player to do so since Kyle Lewis in 2019. He also became the first Tigers' player since Don Ross in 1938, and the sixth player in MLB history, to drive in a run in at least six of his first eight career games.[14][15]

On August 11, Baddoo was placed on the 7-day concussion protocol injured list, following a collision with center fielder Derek Hill the previous night.[16] Baddoo was activated off the injured list on August 23.[17] Baddoo finished the 2021 season hitting .259 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI, while stealing 18 bases in 22 attempts. Baddoo earned the Detroit Tigers-Detroit Sports Media Association 2021 Rookie of the Year award.

Baddoo made the 2022 Opening day roster and began the season as the Tigers' center fielder. On May 9, he was sent down to Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens after posting a .140 average.[18] After hitting .300 with a .405 on-base percentage in 30 games with Toledo, he was recalled to the Tigers on July 11.[19] He finished the season hitting .204 with 2 home runs.

Baddoo was optioned to Toledo to begin the 2023 season,[20] and was called up on April 8, after Austin Meadows was placed on the 10-day injured list.[21] He played in 112 games for Detroit, batting .218/.310/.372 with 11 home runs, 34 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. Baddoo was again optioned to Triple–A Toledo to begin the 2024 season.[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Seidel, Jeff. "Akil Baddoo has prepared for chance with Detroit Tigers his". Detroit Free Press.
  2. ^ Seidel, Jeff. "Get Access". Detroit Tigers' Akil Baddoo went from wrestling family to a.
  3. ^ Henning, Lynn. "Athleticism, 'all-around tools' make Akil Baddoo an intriguing Tigers newcomer". The Detroit News.
  4. ^ Stavenhagen, Cody. "To understand Akil Baddoo's play, you must first know his heart". The Athletic. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Baseball Reference - Akil Baddoo". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Beck, Jason (December 10, 2020). "Tigers select Baddoo, lose Vest in Rule 5". MLB.com. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Anderson, R. J. (December 10, 2020). "MLB Rule 5 Draft results 2020: Breakdown of all 18 picks, including multiple players from Yankees, Dodgers". CBSsports.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Day, Brandon (December 7, 2020). "Tigers select outfielder Akil Baddoo in Rule 5 draft". Bless You Boys. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  9. ^ Petzold, Evan (March 27, 2021). "Detroit Tigers set Opening Day roster: Renato Nunez out, Harold Castro, Akil Baddoo in". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Petzold, Evan (April 4, 2021). "Detroit Tigers' Akil Baddoo makes MLB debut; Miguel Cabrera health update". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Beck, Jason (April 4, 2021). "Baddoo HRs in 1st MLB AB ... on the 1st pitch". MLB.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  12. ^ Beck, Jason (April 5, 2021). "Baddoo adds slam to fairytale debut week". MLB.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Beck, Jason (April 6, 2021). "Walk-off! Baddoo adds to growing legend". MLB.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  14. ^ Beck, Jason (April 13, 2021). "Yabba-da-Baddoo! Tigers HR-happy at MMP". MLB.com. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  15. ^ Petzold, Evan (April 13, 2021). "Detroit Tigers win second straight over Houston Astros, 8-2, behind five home runs". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  16. ^ Petzold, Evan (August 11, 2021). "Detroit Tigers' Akil Baddoo, Derek Hill to IL; Zack Short, Renato Nunez promoted". freep.com. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  17. ^ Woodbery, Evan (August 23, 2021). "Tigers activate Akil Baddoo from injured list, DFA starting pitcher". MLive.com. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  18. ^ "Tigers Option Akil Baddoo to Triple-A, Recall Rony Garcia".
  19. ^ "Tigers bring back Akil Baddoo, option rookie infielder".
  20. ^ "Tigers' Akil Baddoo: Loses out on Opening Day roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  21. ^ "Tigers Place Austin Meadows On 10-Day Injured List". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  22. ^ "Detroit Tigers set 13 position players for Opening Day with three cuts in spring training". freep.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
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