The Milwaukee Brewers continued rounding out their roster on Thursday, announcing that they’ve reached a one-year agreement with outfielder Akil Baddoo. Milwaukee had a vacant spot available on its 40-man roster, so no corresponding move was required. With Baddoo now officially under contract, the team’s roster is at full capacity as it moves deeper into the offseason.

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For Baddoo, the signing marks the latest chapter in a career that has featured both early flashes of upside and stretches of inconsistency. Originally drafted 74th overall by the Minnesota Twins in 2016, the left-handed-hitting outfielder never reached the majors with his original organization. His breakthrough opportunity came when the Detroit Tigers selected him in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, a move that immediately brought him into the big-league spotlight.

Baddoo seized that chance with an impressive rookie campaign in 2021. Over 461 plate appearances, he produced a .259/.330/.436 line, delivered 13 home runs, and swiped 18 bases. His combination of athleticism, patience, and sneaky power suggested the Tigers might have landed a long-term contributor. At minimum, he appeared to project as a platoon option in a corner-outfield role—one capable of impacting the game both on the bases and at the plate.

The seasons that followed brought a more uneven performance, but the Brewers see enough in the 27-year-old to give him another opportunity to establish himself. He arrives with one minor league option remaining, a significant detail for roster construction. Milwaukee won’t be forced into an immediate decision on his role; if he doesn’t win a job out of Spring Training, he can be optioned to Triple-A Nashville without being exposed to waivers. That flexibility should place him firmly in the competition for playing time alongside two of the club’s young, foundational outfielders: Jackson Chourio in right field and Sal Frelick in center.

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Beyond the short-term depth he provides, Baddoo also offers potential long-term value. He has accrued just over three years of major league service time—3.021, to be exact—meaning the Brewers will be able to keep him under team control through at least the 2028 season if he sticks on the roster. Should he spend fewer than 151 days in the majors this year, that control could even extend an additional season, giving Milwaukee a cost-effective, arbitration-eligible outfielder through multiple competitive windows.

For now, Baddoo joins a Brewers organization that has shown a knack for extracting value from players seeking fresh starts. If he can recapture even part of the dynamic skill set he showed in his debut season, Milwaukee’s low-risk investment could pay meaningful dividends in 2026 and beyond.

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