Detroit Tigers Rule 5 Draft Pick Akil Baddoo Is Baseball’s Biggest Sensation Right Now

Akil Baddoo might be one of the easiest guys to root for in all of sports right now. The Detroit Tigers center fielder sat out 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, missed last season when the minor leagues didn’t play due to the pandemic, but he never gave up.

Baddoo was taken by the Tigers during the rule-5 Draft this Winter. He went on to have a torrid run in Spring Training, earning one of the last spots on the Tigers’ roster.

“If you think about it, he’s gone through so much,” Akil Baddoo’s mom, Akilah said via The Athletic. “And then this opportunity came and it was like, ‘This can’t be a joke. There’s a plan for you. You got to know that.’”

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And now, Baddoo is making the most of his opportunity. In his first at-bat in the MLB, Baddoo hit an opposite field home run on Sunday. His parents were in the stands to celebrate his incredible moment.

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Akil Badoo's parents reaction to his first MLB HR (in his first MLB PA)

How can you not be romantic about baseball. pic.twitter.com/mQY9ZI1X0d

— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) April 4, 2021

He would go on to hit another home run on Monday, and hit a walk-off single on Tuesday.

As if that wasn’t enough, Baddoo was at it again on Wednesday, sending an RBI triple into the gap in right-center field.

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AKIL BADDOO RBI TRIPLE ARE YOU SERIOUS?? #DetroitRoots
pic.twitter.com/2ODh8mpUdo

— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) April 7, 2021

Baseball fans are losing it with Akil Baddoo’s sensational first week.

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Tigers rookie Akil Baddoo's career is off to a storybook start:

⭐ Sunday: Homers on first pitch he's ever seen
⭐ Monday: Hits Grand Slam
⭐ Tuesday: Hits a walk-off single

Can't write this stuff. pic.twitter.com/7T5iJKs7gM

— ESPN (@espn) April 7, 2021

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My grandfather had Babe Ruth

My dad had Barry Bonds

My cousin had Ken Griffey Jr

I have Akil Badoo pic.twitter.com/VAQ3Xby3Pe

— gianni🦁 (@Play0ffDre) April 4, 2021

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19,925th player in MLB history: Akil Baddoo

– 2nd round pick by MIN out of Salem HS (GA) in '16
– Tommy John surgery in June '19
– Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20
– has never played above A-ball but crushed it in Spring Training
– JUST WENT YARD ON THE FIRST MLB PITCH HE EVER SAW!!! pic.twitter.com/BTlACjkvun

— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) April 4, 2021

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Homers on the first pitch he sees in the big leagues and follows that up with a damn grand slam. Bow down to Akil Baddoo. https://t.co/1QQ6ZtH47F

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) April 5, 2021

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Is.. is Akil Baddoo the best player on this team?pic.twitter.com/Z3whDqlwFR

— Miguel Cabrera’s (B(enson))at (@Miggysbat) April 7, 2021

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Anytime Akil Baddoo gets another hit: pic.twitter.com/NFUO3HyAwU

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) April 7, 2021

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Akil Baddoo on the Detroit Tigers pic.twitter.com/joUwQBrM6b

— 𝔾𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕪𝕓𝕠𝕪® (@TheGloveSports) April 6, 2021

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Akil Baddoo is one of the best stories in America right now. https://t.co/Iu7Zs2IoWU

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) April 7, 2021

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AKIL BADDOO FOR PRESIDENT pic.twitter.com/BvV9Ga7M3A

— will: nap enthusiast 🇺🇦 (@wrhiv_72) April 6, 2021

Nobody would have guessed that Akil Baddoo would have been the best story in baseball right now, but that’s where we’re at. He has sports fans everywhere tuned into his every at-bat with his incredible story and run at history.

You have to smile watching this kid play the game right now. Truly awesome stuff.

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