DETROIT — To say Akil Baddoo haunted his old team with a grand slam might be a dramatization given the Tigers’ 15-6 loss to the Twins on Monday at Comerica Park. Still, Detroit’s young outfielder continues to impress.
On a day when Nelson Cruz homered twice, starter José Ureña threw just 39 of 81 pitches for strikes and utility infielder Harold Castro was the only Tigers reliever to retire the Twins in order, Baddoo made sure Detroit went out with a bang, churning out a five-run ninth inning.
Again, the 22-year-old left-handed hitter went out to the opposite field, sending a Randy Dobnak sinker out to left with Baddoo’s family in the stands behind the plate. Dobnak finished out the inning for a three-inning save in a nine-run game, but Baddoo finished a game during which he reached base safely three times and stole a base.
The grand slam was another bit of history for Baddoo, who hit his first Major League pitch out for a solo homer on Sunday. He’s the first Tiger to homer in each of his first two Major League games, and the first player in MLB history to homer out of the ninth spot of the order in his first two big league games.
Baddoo was a Twins prospect until the Tigers selected him with the third pick in the Rule 5 Draft in December. His Major League debut on Sunday marked his first game above the Class A level, and his first regular-season game at any level since May 2019.