Tigers send message to struggling rookie (and it comes with surprise promotion)

According to a report from Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Tigers have optioned rookie third baseman Jace Jung back to Triple-A Toledo and recalled outfielder Akil Baddoo in a corresponding move.

The Tigers already had two open spots on their 40-man roster, so a corresponding move wasn't necessary to add Baddoo. However, the outfielder will take Jung's spot on the active roster while the third baseman heads back to Toledo for a second time this season.

A demotion already seemed inevitable for Jung, who hit .111 with seven walks and 15 strikeouts in 18 games this season. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Jung made his Major League debut with the Tigers last season and owns a .194 batting average in his 52-game MLB career.

Jung's demotion may also indicate that utility man Matt Vierling is on the precipice of a return from the injured list, where he has spent the entire season up to this point recovering from a right rotator cuff strain. With Vierling expected to take on the bulk of the workload at third base before suffering the injury during spring training, Andy Ibáñez and Zach McKinstry figure to split time at the hot corner for the Tigers until Vierling returns.

Tigers’ message to struggling Jace Jung comes with surprise Akil Baddoo promotion

Baddoo lost his spot on the Tigers' 40-man roster during the offseason but re-signed with the organization on a minor league contract. He attended spring training as a non-roster invitee but suffered a hand fracture that required surgery during the first week of camp.

Baddoo began a rehab assignment in early April and played in seven games at Single-A Lakeland before being transferred to Triple-A. He has now made his way back to the big leagues after posting an .820 OPS with six home runs and four stolen bases at Toledo this season, and he will likely operate in a reserve outfielder role for the Tigers.

At the Major League level, Baddoo has a career batting average of .226 with 28 homers and 103 RBI in 999 at-bats with the Tigers. He provides some welcome depth to an outfield corps that has already lost Vierling, Wenceel Pérez and Parker Meadows to injuries early in the season.

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