They saw him homer in his first big-league at-bat. They saw him hit a grand slam in his second big-league game. And somehow, Akil Baddoo's parents and two younger brothers missed the highlight of his introduction to Detroit.
They left town before Baddoo lifted the Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Twins on Tuesday with a walk-off single in the 10th.
His phone was so cluttered with texts and calls afterward he nearly forgot to send the message that mattered most.
"It’s ridiculous! I actually had to put my phone down because it’s like, OK, this is overwhelming. I gotta get back to my family," Baddoo said Wednesday on the Stoney & Jansen Show.
Entering Tuesday, Baddoo was already the first player in Tigers history to homer in his first two big-league games. And the third player in MLB history to homer in his first two big-league games with one of those homers being a grand slam.
Then he became the first player in MLB history to notch multiple homers, including a grand slam, and a walk-off hit in the first three games of his career. The homers were fun, but they came in losses. They paled in comparison to the single.
"We won," Baddoo said. "I love all the milestones, I’m really humbled and grateful for what people are telling me I’ve done. But we want to win and I was glad I was able to contribute."
This wasn't supposed to happen. Baddoo was selected by the Tigers in last year's Rule 5 draft having missed all of 2020 and most of 2019 with an elbow injury. His minor-league career with the Twins went no further than A-ball. Now he's wreaking havoc in the majors.
Or maybe it's happening exactly as planned. Baddoo was a natural from the moment he picked up a bat and started hitting homers off his dad in the backyard. His mom wanted him to play soccer because of her Trinidadian roots, but, well ...
"My dad was like, 'No, we’re putting this boy in baseball because as soon as he picked up a bat he knew exactly what to do,'" Baddoo said with a laugh. "I’m definitely glad we chose baseball."
And the Tigers are definitely glad they chose Baddoo. From the moment he arrived in big-league camp this spring, he had the look of a big-league player. The confidence, the charisma, the cool. He tackled every challenge A.J. Hinch placed in front of him. And when it became apparent the Twins might walk Robbie Grossman to face Baddoo in the 10th inning on Tuesday, Hinch looked over at the 22-year-old and said, "Be ready for your moment."
"I'm ready, I'm ready," Baddoo replied. "Same game."
A few moments later, he was being mobbed by his teammates. This stage just seems to suit him. He's not afraid of the stakes, despite his lack of experience. He's not fazed by major-league pitching, despite never hitting anything like it. Baddoo believes he belongs here, and that's what he tells himself whenever he walks to the plate.
"I tell myself just to stay mentally tough. 'You’ve been doing this since you were four years old. Have fun and enjoy it. You’re here for a reason. Show everyone you’re here to stay and you belong.' That’s what I’ve taken into my at-bats each and every day," Baddoo said.
His feel for the big-league game is something his teammates can sense. Just the other day, veteran catcher Wilson Ramos said Baddoo has the "tools to be here for 20 years." Which would put him in the company of guys like Al Kaline, Alan Trammell and Ty Cobb. Not to get ahead of ourselves or anything.
And not that Baddoo is thinking about anything but the next game.
"Throughout my career I had to overcome adversity and just realize that baseball is a game of failure, so be prepared for it," he said. "Stay even keel and just have fun."
Even-Akill, keeping it cool and beating the odds.