Akil Neomon Baddoo is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers in the United States. In 2021, he made his MLB debut.
The Minnesota Twins selected Baddoo in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft out of high school.
He was assigned to the Class A Cedar Rapids Kernels for the 2018 season after two seasons in the Twins’ minor levels.
Baddoo hit .243 in 113 games, with 11 home runs, 40 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. For the 2019 season, he was promoted to the Class A+ Fort Myers Miracle, but he only played 29 games before needing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.
The Detroit Tigers selected Baddoo with the third overall pick in the 2020 Rule 5 draft on December 10, 2020.
Baddoo was named to the team’s Opening Day roster in 2021 after hitting.325 with 5 home runs in spring training.
On April 4, he debuted in the major leagues, smashing a home run on the first pitch he saw from Cleveland Indians starter Aaron Civale.
Baddoo became the eighth Tigers player to hit a home run in his first big league at-bat, and only the second to do so on the first pitch, after George Vico in 1948.
The next day, against Randy Dobnak of the Minnesota Twins, Baddoo hit his first career grand slam.
He became the first player in team history to hit a home run in each of his first two career games, and the first player in MLB history to do so while batting ninth.
Following a collision with center fielder Derek Hill the night before, Baddoo was placed on the 7-day concussion protocol disabled list on August 11.
On August 23, Baddoo was activated from the injured list. Baddoo hit .259 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI in 2021, while also stealing 18 bases in 22 attempts.
Baddoo was named Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Sports Media Association in 2021.
How Tall Is Akil Baddoo?
Akil Baddoo is 1.85 m tall