Will more versatility help Baker reach majors?

PROSPECT REVIEW: DARREN BAKER

Age on opening day 2024: 25

How acquired: Drafted in 10th round in 2021 from University of California, Berkeley

Ranking: No. 24 per MLB Pipeline, No. 26 per Baseball America

MLB ETA: 2023
* Projected by MLB Pipeline

Signing bonus: $146,800

2023 levels: Rookie-level Florida Complex League, High-A Wilmington and Triple-A Rochester

2023 stats: 107 G, 479 PA, 430 AB, 50 R, 122 H, 11 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 44 RBIs, 21 SB, 6 CS, 43 BB, 79 SO, .284 AVG, .350 OBP, .349 SLG, .698 OPS

Quotable: “It makes a big difference. I think I might be more used to that kind of environment, maybe, than the minor league area, just because I’ve been around it more. I feel really comfortable.” – Darren Baker on his experience playing major league spring training games helping his development

2023 analysis: With October and the World Series over, so is Darren Baker Season, when we remember the 3-year-old son of then Giants manager Dusty Baker nearly getting run over during Game 5 of the 2002 Fall Classic. But Darren, now 24, has come a long way since that near incident on a national stage.

The younger Baker was first drafted by the Nationals out of high school in the 27th round in 2017, when his father was in the middle of his second season as manager in Washington. But he didn’t sign and instead attended the University of California, Berkeley.

After four seasons at Cal, the Nationals again drafted Darren, this time with a 10th-round pick in 2021. And although he has never been a highly ranking prospect, he has made steady progress up the organizational ladder over his first three seasons.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound second baseman slashed .333/.375/.407 in 22 games between the FCL and Single-A Fredericksburg that summer. Then in 2022, he hit .280/.343/.365 in 105 games between Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg while being selected to represent the Nationals in the All-Star Futures Game, then in the Arizona Fall League.

Darren then made headlines again in spring training with a ninth-inning game-tying grand slam that sparked the Nats to a comeback win over his father’s Astros.

“He didn’t want to look at me,” Darren said. “He didn’t want to speak to me after the game, so I had to run down the third base line. He said he’ll call me later.”

“I love my son,” Dusty said, “but I hate to lose. … I didn’t know whether to be a proud papa or an angry papa.”

When healthy, Darren spent his entire season at Rochester. Only a stint on the injured list at the beginning of June and eight rehab games between the FCL and Wilmington had him play anywhere else.

In 99 games with the Red Wings, he slashed .273/.338/.340 with a .678 OPS, 10 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 41 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, 39 walks and 76 strikeouts.

Defensively, Baker was primarily a second baseman, posting a .968 fielding percentage with eight errors in 533 innings over 63 games at Triple-A. But the Nationals also had him play some left field, where he was perfect defensively in 279 innings over 32 Triple-A games.

2024 outlook: Obviously, Darren did not fulfill MLB Pipeline’s projection of making his major league debut this year. But he was often believed to be close.

A contact hitter who can spray the ball over the field, has above-average speed and is a solid defender, Darren made a case to get a shot at the major league level.

But when opportunities seemingly presented themselves (most notable Luis García’s demotion in August), the Nationals chose to bring up the likes of Carter Kieboom, Jake Alu and Jeter Downs instead. Yes, those three are more advanced than Darren at the moment. But his ascension through the Nats system over the past couple of years has put him on the cusp of the big leagues.

Darren proved to be a quality defender at second base, making some spectacular highlight plays along the way. But even so, the Nationals are trying to take advantage of his athleticism by giving some reps in the outfield.

His path to the majors might be made easier if he can develop more versatility and continue to show he can put the ball in play. His speed and defense should take over from there.

Darren’s path to the majors might also be made easier with García’s future with the Nats in question. With Alu also playing the outfield and Downs mostly playing all over the infield, only rising prospect Trey Lipscomb figures to challenge Darren as a true second base option.