DUNEDIN, Fla. – Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo continued his scorching hot start to spring training Friday with a leadoff home run against a left-handed pitcher.
Baddoo found himself at the top of A.J. Hinch’s lineup Friday (March 25) even thought the Toronto Blue Jays started veteran lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu.
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After taking the first pitch for a strike and fouling off the second, Baddoo hammered the 0-2 offering from Ryu over the right-field wall.
If @AkilBaddoo wants to hit a ball to Canada, who are we to refuse? pic.twitter.com/0URoXbWU21
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 25, 2022
Baddoo has been excellent so far this spring, leading off each of his last three starts with extra-base hits -- a triple (Monday), double (Wednesday) and home run (Friday). Overall, he’s 6-for-12 with two home runs, three strikeouts and a 1.750 OPS (through his second at-bat Friday).
The 23-year-old is already becoming a bit of a spring legend. He made the Tigers’ Opening Day roster in 2021 thanks to a 1.210 OPS through 21 spring games. He hit five home runs and drew 10 walks in the exhibition after the Tigers selected him in the Rule 5 draft.
Friday’s home run was especially encouraging since it came against a left-handed pitcher. Baddoo has proven he belongs at the MLB level, but his success against lefties will determine if he’s an everyday player or part of a platoon in 2022.
During his rookie season, Baddoo batted just .214 with a .523 OPS against left-handed pitchers, compared to a .273 average and .841 OPS against righties. He hit 19 doubles, six triples and 13 home runs against right-handers (315 at-bats), and just one double, one triple and no home runs against lefties (98 at-bats).
