Tigers Send Last Year's Rookie Sensation To Triple-A

He was one of the sensations of the 2021 major league season, with one of the most sensational names to go with it. But 2022 has been nothing but a struggle for the Detroit Tigers' Akil Baddoo, and he'll have to work things out now at Triple-A. 

The 23-year-old has hit just .140 in 17 games with one home run and one stolen base, a stark contrast to his spectacular arrival on the scene last season, when he batted .259 with 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases. 

Baddoo had never played above High-A ball when the Tigers selected him in the Rule 5 draft and kept him on their major league roster all season. He'll now join the Toledo Mud Hens in AAA to try to get his mojo back. 

"You always got to make good out of it," Baddoo told the Detroit Free Press on  Monday. "It's unfortunate, but I'm going to get the reps that I need and be ready to come back. ... I definitely want to be back where I feel I belong. It's the same mindset, be here as quick as possible."

Manager AJ Hinch offered, "We need him to decompress, get himself right and play every day. He can really help us. Our best team has him on it. But right now, we've not been able to get him started and get him going consistently to where we feel like it's beneficial for him to be here."

To replace him on the roster, the Tigers have called up right-handed reliever Rony Garcia.

Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports