Detroit Tigers: Can Akil Baddoo perform at the same level in 2022?

Last offseason, the Detroit Tigers opted to take a chance and select Akil Baddoo during the major league portion of the Rule 5 Player Draft. They brought in Baddoo from the Minnesota Twins organization, and the rest was history.

The Detroit Tigers got to see Baddoo early and often, and he wound up earning playing time throughout the entire season and was able to perform at an incredibly high level all season long. Baddoo had quite the breakout season last summer, and there are two ways this can go.

To be cut and dry about it, Baddoo will either continue to emerge and be one heck of a move from the front office. Otherwise, the sophomore slump will become a real thing as other teams get the report on him, and he starts to dwindle down to a mediocre player.

The hope is that Baddoo turns out to be a benefit to the team’s lineup once again and can continue finding success after such an impeccable 2021 season. The question is if he can continue to have success as he did in 2021.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo will get the job done in 2022.

There was a lengthy absence from the field for Baddoo for multiple reasons. Between the pandemic stoppage and injuries, Baddoo had spent a significant time away from the diamond but still burst onto the season in 2021.

He would play in 124 games for the Detroit Tigers throughout the 2021 season, where he slashed .259/.330/.436 with 13 home runs or 55 RBI. It was quite a warm welcome to the league as he was able to get going with a bang.

From diving catches and a grand slam, Baddoo caught the eye of the fans early on, and that did not stop throughout the entire season. While he may have slowed down a little, he still finished in a great spot.

The Tigers should be expecting the same output from him in 2022. Even if other teams start to attack Baddoo differently and the sophomore slump gets him, he should be expected to make adjustments.

After all, the Tigers are starting to build their roster out for the future, and the players who are going to make a difference in the lineup have to be sorted out from those who need to be replaced. It seems like Baddoo was a stroke of good luck for the Tigers front office, who is going to add to the teams’ lineup.

Whenever the 2022 season does roll around, expect Baddoo to bring his A-game and perform similar to how he did in 2021.