Akil Baddoo is the rookie outfielder for the Detroit Tigers who has hit the major leagues by storm both on and off the field. After not playing for two years due to injury and the pandemic, the 22-year-old homered off the first pitch he saw as a big-league player, hit a grand slam in his second game and a walk-off single in his third. But what’s more special about Akil is how he converted his early success into a fundraising campaign for social justice. Akil created an NFT series around his MLB debut with proceeds going to RISE and Detroit RBI. We speak with Akil about his journey to the big leagues, overcoming personal and professional adversity and what from his own life inspires him to be an advocate for racial equity and social justice.
