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Akil Baddoo catches a ball hit by Vinnie Pasquantino in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 23, 2023.
he Milwaukee Brewers made waves early in the 2026 offseason by signing outfielder Akil Baddoo to a major-league contract, adding him to a roster already deep in outfield talent. The one-year deal marks the Brewers’ first major free-agent acquisition this winter and signals a willingness by the front office to bet on upside with low risk.
While Baddoo’s signing doesn’t break the bank, the contract pays $1.25 million at the MLB level and $845,000 in the minors, it presents an intriguing opportunity for Milwaukee to tap into the potential that once made him one of baseball’s more exciting young players.
From Rookie Sensation to Rebuild Candidate
According to the Associated Press, he was “a second round pick by Minnesota in the 2016 amateur draft” and then “was acquired by Detroit in the 2020 amateur draft.”
Baddoo first captured national attention with the Detroit Tigers in 2021, when, as a rookie, he hit .259 with 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases, showcasing a rare combination of speed and power. It was one of the more memorable debut seasons in recent memory and set high expectations for Baddoo’s future.
Since then, though, Baddoo has struggled to replicate that early success at the Major League level. Including stints interrupted by injuries and time spent in the minors, his overall MLB numbers dipped below league average in subsequent seasons. In 2025, he appeared in only seven games for Detroit before spending most of the year with Triple-A Toledo, where he rediscovered some consistency. He batted .281 with a .385 on-base percentage, 15 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
This contrast, a brief but electrifying rookie campaign followed by uneven production, makes Baddoo one of the more intriguing reclamation projects available this offseason. For the Brewers, signing him to a low-cost contract mitigates much of the risk while preserving a chance at a high reward if he can click in Milwaukee.
What Baddoo Brings to the Brewers
Adding Baddoo gives the Brewers additional depth and athleticism in an outfield group that already includes Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich. Baddoo’s speed and ability to swipe bases could provide a dynamic element in a lineup that values situational hitting, baserunning aggressiveness and defensive versatility.
At 27 years old, Baddoo still has room to grow, and his success in Triple-A suggests that his development isn’t fully behind him. Milwaukee’s coaching staff has a reputation for helping players refine their approach at the plate and in the field, which could make this the ideal environment for Baddoo to rebuild his value.
Roster Implications and Challenges Ahead
The decision to sign Baddoo has already contributed to a crowded outfield picture in Milwaukee. With nine players capable of manning the outfield on the 40-man roster, the Brewers may be forced to make additional moves to clear space and ensure each player gets meaningful opportunities.
With that in mind, the team made one such move on Sunday, trading Isaac Collins–one of several players capable of filling outfield roles–along with Nick Mears to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for left-handed pitcher Ángel Zerpa.
Others, such as Blake Perkins and Garrett Mitchell, could also potentially emerge as trade candidates as Milwaukee continues to evaluate how best to balance its roster.
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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