Brewers 5-Year Veteran Outfielder Finishes Rehab Stint, Sent to Triple-A

Will we see Akil Baddoo in the majors this year?

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Akil Baddoo is shown before their game against the New York Yankees Friday, May 8, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Akil Baddoo signed a one-year contract in December, but a third of the way into the major league season, he has yet to contribute.

Baddoo's contract was technically a major league deal, but the structure of it allowed the Brewers to option him to the minors if they saw fit. That decision was delayed during spring training, however, as the 27-year-old suffered a quad strain that landed him on the 60-day injured list.

Milwaukee sent Baddoo on a minor-league rehab assignment on May 15, but after assessing his injury and the outfield picture at the major league level, the club decided to option him to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday, meaning he'll stay right where he was until further notice.

If you like our content, choose Sports Illustrated as a preferred source on Google.

Baddoo needs some luck to return to majors

Mar 9, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Akil Baddoo (25) hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Baddoo's guaranteed deal pays him $845,000 prorated for any time he spends on the minor-league roster, compared to $1.25 million if he's on the major league roster. Once a regular in the Detroit Tigers outfield, he's spent most of the last four years in Triple-A and was hoping for a fresh start in the Brewers organization after being designated for assignment at the end of last season.

In 347 career major league games, Baddoo has a .674 OPS, 28 home runs, and 2.8 bWAR. He's off to a somewhat promising start in Nashville, with two home runs in his first 20 at-bats.

The pecking order in the Brewers' outfield is fairly long before you arrive at Baddoo's name. Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, and Jackson Chourio are the regular major league starters, with Christian Yelich at designated hitter and Blake Perkins in the fourth outfielder role.

Brandon Lockridge was ahead of Baddoo too before he got injured, and Luis Matos and Greg Jones have played in the majors this season as well.

It might take a stroke of good fortune for Baddoo to return to the majors this season regardless of performance, but continuing to hit the ball out of the ballpark in Triple-A is going to be key, as the Brewers rank dead last in home runs across Major League Baseball.