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Darren Baker (baseball)

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Darren Baker
Baker with the Harrisburg Senators in 2022
Washington Nationals – No. 10
Second baseman
Born: (1999-02-11) February 11, 1999 (age 25)
Redwood City, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2024, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
(through September 21, 2024)
Batting average.462
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams

Darren John Baker (born February 11, 1999) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Early life

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Baker is the son of former MLB player and manager Dusty Baker. As a toddler, Darren served as the batboy for the San Francisco Giants while his father was managing the team. During game five of the 2002 World Series, Darren narrowly missed being run over at home plate by baserunner David Bell. He was lifted out of the way by Giants first baseman J. T. Snow before a collision could occur.[1][2][3] Major League Baseball set a minimum age of 14 for batboys as a result of the incident.[4]

Career

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Baker attended Jesuit High School in Sacramento, California.[5][6] He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 27th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and played college baseball at the University of California, Berkeley.[7][8] In 2019, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[9] After four years at Berkeley, he was again drafted by the Nationals, this time in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB draft, and signed.[10]

Baker spent his first professional season with the rookie–level Florida Complex League Nationals and Single–A Fredericksburg Nationals. He played 2022 with the High–A Wilmington Blue Rocks and Double–A Harrisburg Senators, batting a combined .280/.343/.365 with three home runs, 39 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. In July, Baker played in the All-Star Futures Game.[11] Baker played for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League following the regular season.[12]

Baker was promoted to the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings to start the 2023 season. In 99 games for Rochester, he slashed .273/.338/.340 with three home runs, 41 RBI, and 19 stolen bases.[13] On September 1, 2024, Baker was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[14] In his debut, he hit a single to center field on the first pitch he saw.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Darren Baker still can't be a bat boy 10 years later". USA Today.
  2. ^ "Ten years later, Darren Baker's footprints visible". MLB.com.
  3. ^ "J.T. Snow, Darren Baker reminisce about famous 2002 World Series scene". August 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "Selig to Raise Age For Batboys to 14". The New York Times. December 17, 2002. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  5. ^ "Baker's son ready for next step in baseball". MLB.com.
  6. ^ "The little batboy who could: Darren Baker, now 18, grows up". May 29, 2017.
  7. ^ Chelsea Janes (June 14, 2017). "Nationals draft Dusty's son Darren Baker in 27th round". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
  8. ^ "How Darren Baker went from Giants bat boy to MLB draft prospect at Cal". February 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "#11 Darren Baker". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Darren Baker to forge own legacy with Nats". MLB.com.
  11. ^ "Nats prospects Cavalli, Baker named to MLB Futures Game".
  12. ^ "The Arizona Fall League rosters are here -- and they're loaded". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  13. ^ "Darren Baker Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "Nationals add Darren Baker, son of ex-manager Dusty Baker". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Camerato, Jessica (September 1, 2024). "'I feel like I belong': Baker gets full-circle chance with Nats". MLB.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
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