Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo (hand) is expected to be out of action for the next few weeks. The left-handed slugger underwent surgery on Thursday to address a hamate fracture in his right hand. The Tigers haven't given an exact timetable, but Baddoo is likely to miss at least a few weeks of action. The 26-year-old begin his career with a bang, but has been unable to find the same success over the last few seasons. Baddoo was likely headed to Triple-A to begin the year, but this injury will set him back. Honestly, Baddoo hasn't been much of a fantasy option anyway since his 2021 rookie campaign.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday. The 26-year-old was designated for assignment last week, but will stick with the organization. Baddoo has struggled in each of the last three seasons after entering the MLB with a bang in 2021. Baddoo hit .259/.330/.436 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI with 18 stolen bases during his rookie season in 2021 with the Tigers. Last season, Baddoo posted his worst stats of his career with a .159 batting average with two home runs and five RBI in 31 games. He figures to start the season in the minors and could get another chance if he can prove himself in Toledo.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's victory against the Boston Red Sox. Baddoo was recently recalled from Triple-A Toledo with outfielder Kerry Carpenter (back) being placed on the 10-day injured list. Baddoo has been a popular preseason pick for managers over the past few seasons, but has failed to live up to expectations throughout his career. With Carpenter sidelined, Baddoo should continue to see at-bats versus right-handed pitching, but he will need to string together some good games before managers have reason to take a chance with him. Baddoo will look to keep it going on Friday in a tough matchup versus Tanner Houck and the Boston Red Sox.
Akil Baddoo At Risk Of Not Making Opening Day Roster
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo may or may not make the team's Opening Day roster, according to Evan Woodberry of MLive. Baddoo put together a poor 2023 season, slashing .218/.310/.372 with 11 home runs, 34 RBI, and 14 stolen bases over 312 at-bats. The organization is high on Parker Meadows, who impressed with his defensive ability and speed on the basepaths in a small sample size of 37 games last season. The team could begin the season with Meadows at center field and Riley Greene and Matt Vierling occupying the corner outfield spots. That scenario doesn't leave room for Baddoo. He does have experience playing center field, however, so if Meadows were to struggle, he could fill in for him. The Detroit outfield should come into more focus as spring training gets underway, but for now, it looks like Baddoo could be on the outside looking in.
Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said at the general manager meetings this week that the team is expected to tender outfielder Akil Baddoo a contract for 2024. "He still very much fits in...There is a role for him. We're not an organization that wants to give up players that can affect the game in that way for nothing," Harris said. In his first year of arbitration eligibility, Baddoo is projected to make less than $2 million in 2024, so the Tigers will keep the 25-year-old around despite another disappointing season in which he slashed .218/.310/.372 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles, a triple, 34 RBI, 14 stolen bases and 40 runs scored in 112 games played. Baddoo will likely be ticketed for a part-time role in 2024 and will give fantasy managers a modest power/speed combination.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo is back in the starting lineup Wednesday night versus the Kansas City Royals and right-hander Jonathan Bowlan, who is making his MLB debut this evening. Baddoo didn't start Tuesday's series-opening 6-3 victory but did enter the game as a pinch-hitter and launched a mammoth 443-foot homer on the first pitch he saw in the eighth inning. Starts haven't been as consistent for Baddoo after prospect Parker Meadows was promoted to the big leagues and he has hit just .196 with two homers, one double, and a .608 OPS across 50 plate appearances in the month of September. He will take on a right-hander in Bowlan who has worked to a 5.91 ERA across 102 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this season.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo went 2-for-4 at the plate with a two-run home run and two runs scored as the Tigers beat the Reds 8-2 on Thursday. The left-handed hitter entered the contest with only three hits in his last 20 at-bats. In the 2023 campaign, the 25-year-old has battled some injuries. He's posted a slash line of .224/.309/.369 in 101 contests. In 290 trips to the plate, Baddoo has hit 10 home runs while driving in 31 runs.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The left-handed slugger will sit out his second straight game, but he doesn't appear to be dealing with an injury. Baddoo went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts during their last series. That being said, the Tigers are deciding to give him some rest and try other options. Kerry Carpenter will start in right field and bat fifth versus right-hander Touki Toussaint on Friday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly.
The Detroit Tigers plan to activate outfielder Akil Baddoo (quadriceps) from the 10-day injured list on Friday in time for the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. Baddoo will be available to fantasy managers in deeper leagues for the final series of the first half of the season against Toronto. The 24-year-old has been out since early June with a right-quadriceps strain. He went 2-for-12 with a double in four games during his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo and will return to a .231/.341/.343 slash line with three home runs, 16 RBI, six stolen bases and 17 runs scored in 50 games at the major-league level. Baddoo hasn't been able to replicate the success he had in his rookie season in 2021, but he should play fairly regularly against right-handed pitching now that he's back.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo (quadriceps) started a running progression on Monday and is also playing catch and hitting flips in the batting cages. Baddoo has been out for almost two weeks while dealing with a strained right quadriceps, but he could be nearing a rehab assignment later this week. However, there is no timetable for his return from the injured list. Before getting hurt, the 24-year-old left-handed hitter had been modestly contributing at the plate, going 33-for-143 (.231) with seven doubles, three home runs, 16 RBI, six stolen bases and 17 runs scored in 50 games. Baddoo isn't much of a mixed-league fantasy option.
Akil Baddoo
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Tigers
