DETROIT -- The old Akil Baddoo appears to be back. Now the only question is when he’ll be back in Detroit.
The 23-year-old outfielder, who was an unexpected rookie phenom for the Detroit Tigers in 2021, got off to a miserable start in 2022.
After being demoted to Triple-A Toledo nearly two months ago, Baddoo struggled through an illness, then injured his oblique. If the goal was to get him regular at-bats to get back on track, it wasn’t in the card.
But that’s changed.
Since returning from the injured list on June 7, Baddoo has hit .325 with seven doubles, two triples and three home runs in 96 plate appearances. He’s walked 14 times, struck out 18 times and stolen six bases.
He’s looked a lot more like the Baddoo of 2021.
“It’s been nice to see,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “I’ve monitored his at-bats and watch him virtually every day. It’s good to see him have some adjustments and then have some success off those adjustments. It looks like his vibe is back, his energy is certainly high and he’s getting some success.
“He’s running the bases. He’s walking. There’s plenty to like with what he’s doing, which is exactly why we wanted him to get down there and play.”
Hinch was unequivocal on one point: The plan is -- and has always been -- to get Baddoo back to Detroit. The only question is how to make it happen.
The Tigers currently have four outfielders on the active roster: Riley Greene, who is playing every day in center field; and Robbie Grossman, Victor Reyes and Willi Castro, who are sharing time in the two corner spots.
That number will soon grow.
Austin Meadows did agility work on the field before Tuesday’s game. Assuming his ailing heels don’t swell up on him, he could leave Detroit on Wednesday to join Triple-A Toledo on a rehab assignment. If all goes well, with the Mud Hens, he could be rejoin the Tigers by Monday.
Meadows’ return would give the Tigers five outfielders, and make it even tougher to find an opening for Baddoo.
Reyes has hit well and seems unlikely to be sent down. Hinch likes Willi Castro’s bat and his arm in right field. Grossman is a veteran that the Tigers hope will rebound enough to be a trade candidate.
And, Greene, of course, is likely to play every day from now until forever, as far as the Tigers are concerned.
That means the only opening for Baddoo -- at least right now -- is likely to come via injury.
Check back after the trade deadline on Aug. 2 and perhaps things will have changed. Until then, the Tigers want Baddoo to keep making things difficult.
“Of course we want Akil on this team,” Hinch said. “We knew that when we sent him down we wanted him to decompress and get back to being himself again. He absolutely factors in the present, future, all aspects.”