Detroit Tigers: Akil Baddoo has settled back in this season

Akil Baddoo settling into Detroit Tigers outfield once again.

The Detroit Tigers took a flier on Akil Baddoo in the Rule 5 Draft from 2020, and he's stuck around since. For the Tigers, Baddoo got off to an insane start, going on a red-hot tear to start on his MLB career after getting the call-up.

For the Detroit Tigers, he's been a great stopgap in the outfield and been a fixture in the lineup. Sure he's taken some games off, but he's been a main piece for the Tigers outfield, being a left-handed bat who has been able to swing it well.

However, things did not go well last summer for Baddoo, and it seemed like the Tigers were trending down a road where they may move on from the lefty-bat. But he ended up being kept around and has settled into the outfield, seeing a bit of a better performance this summer.

In his regression from the 2022 season, Baddoo hit .204/.289/.269 with three doubles, two triples, and two home runs over 201 at-bats. It was a step down from the 2021 season, where he got off to a hot start and introduced himself to the big leagues quite well.

He's come out this summer and been able to be serviceable for the Tigers organization, plugging him into the outfield as needed. He's been someone who keeps getting run out there and has slightly improved from his tough go-around in 2022.

Baddoo has slashed .224/.314/.364 with 11 doubles and nine home runs, managing 28 RBI. He's played in 96 games and has 311 plate appearances to this point, making a slight improvement from where he was.

Baddoo may not be here for the long haul or be a big piece of the puzzle moving forward, but he will continue playing a role. He's likely to get replaced as the Tigers enter an era of competition, but it's still good to see him start settling in a bit more.

For Detroit, it's been a long and winding road. Things have not gotten too far, but the team is looking to keep showing improvements. Getting quality play from the players they do have on the roster, even if they are not expected to be here for the long haul, is crucial.

For Baddoo, he may not be a part of the bigger picture when the team is a competitor once again. However, he's been able to be serviceable, and that's what the Tigers needed from him.