Tigers' Akil Baddoo Made a Case for the Best Defensive Inning Ever vs. Blue Jays

Back-to-back incredible catches to end an inning and save multiple runs? Not too shabby.

Detroit Tiger left fielder Baddoo catches a fly ball for an out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers left fielder Akil Baddoo had himself an incredible inning Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays as he single-handedly helped starter Jackson Jobe out of a first-inning jam.

With two runners on and no outs, Baddoo made a tremendous leaping grab at the wall to save what would have been extra bases for Toronto's Daulton Varsho. Both runners on base had to retreat, giving the Tigers their first out with no damage done.

Alejandro Kirk was the next batter up for Toronto and he made good contact with a ball that headed Baddoo's way. The ball looked like it was bound to drop for a base hit, but Baddoo made a diving grab and immediately fired the ball to second base to beat Bo Bichette back for a double play.

Akil Baddoo is doing it all in the outfield 🤯 #RivalryWeekend pic.twitter.com/bHEOUlj1QT

— MLB (@MLB) May 18, 2025

Back-to-back incredible catches—one at the wall and one diving forward—to result in three outs instead of multiple earned runs. Maybe the best defensive inning ever? Some Tigers fans certainly thought so:

Akil Baddoo just had the best defensive inning I have ever witnessed.

Before I could even finish the tweet about his unbelievable grab crashing into the wall, he rips off a diving double play.

THIS TEAM

— Derick Hutchinson (@Derick_Hutch) May 18, 2025

Akil Baddoo with one of the best defensive innings ever, wow!

— Jake Riepma (@jake_riepma) May 18, 2025

Akil Baddoo might of had the greatest defense inning ever: Part 1 https://t.co/FFUgRzu8Vj

— Curtis (@Curtos07) May 18, 2025

BADDOO WITH THE MOST DOMINANT DEFENSIVE INNING FROM A CORNER OUTFIELDER YOU’LL EVER SEE LOL WHAT

— Scott Bentley (@BentleyScotty) May 18, 2025

AKIL BADDOO! OH MY GOD! Best defensive inning I’ve ever seen. #REPDETROIT pic.twitter.com/8wYDosYjk8

— The Chungus (@RideThisMember) May 18, 2025

The stellar defensive effort certainly earns Baddoo a thank you from Jobe, who may have been in for a long afternoon otherwise.

Baddoo is in his fifth Major League season, all with the Tigers. He started this year in the minor leagues after dealing with injuries before he was called up from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.

Sunday marked just his second appearance for the Tigers this season and he started it off with an inning you'd have to see to believe.

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