Follow the Prospects: Darren Baker, 2B

[imref]

Updating:

- Baker was drafted as a favor to his dad
- Baker isn't a prospect
- Baker got lucky at Fredricksburg (.318 / .352 / .394 in 18 games)
- Baker won't be able to hit at A+ (.273 / .333 / .367 in 62 games)
- Baker won't get past AA (.290 / .356 / .361 in 43 games)
- Baker will be overmatched at AAA (.331 / .410 / .420 in 41 games)
- Baker doesn't have enough minor league games to draw any conclusions
- Baker is at best a backup IF at the major league level <-----YOU ARE HERE
- Baker is an everyday player at the major league level
- Baker is an all-star
- Baker is a future hall of famer
- Baker is traded before free agency because he won't accept 13 / $600 million
- Baker posts .202 / .258 / .217 for the Mets in the first year of his 13 / $600 million contract
- Baker attacks a fan
- Baker retires
- Baker signs with the Long Island Ducks

[GburgNatsFan]

Well done.

Updating:

- Baker was drafted as a favor to his dad
- Baker isn't a prospect
- Baker got lucky at Fredricksburg (.318 / .352 / .394 in 18 games)
- Baker won't be able to hit at A+ (.273 / .333 / .367 in 62 games)
- Baker won't get past AA (.290 / .356 / .361 in 43 games)
- Baker will be overmatched at AAA (.331 / .410 / .420 in 41 games)
- Baker doesn't have enough minor league games to draw any conclusions
- Baker is at best a backup IF at the major league level <-----YOU ARE HERE
- Baker is an everyday player at the major league level
- Baker is an all-star
- Baker is a future hall of famer
- Baker is traded before free agency because he won't accept 13 / $600 million
- Baker posts .202 / .258 / .217 for the Mets in the first year of his 13 / $600 million contract
- Baker attacks a fan
- Baker retires
- Baker signs with the Long Island Ducks

[Natsinpwc]

Keep it up Darren. I think maybe the lack of defensive versatility will hinder him from sticking in MLB. Looks like he played 1 game in CF this year for Rochester. I only see 2B in his defensive position for rest of minor league career.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

he's gotta be better than Wilmer Difo at this point, right?

they may try to deal vargas at the deadline. not likely to get much, but that's Baker's roll.

[imref]

they may try to deal vargas at the deadline. not likely to get much, but that's Baker's roll.

until he becomes an every day player on his way to the HoF.

[Natsinpwc]

they may try to deal vargas at the deadline. not likely to get much, but that's Baker's roll.

But we have no evidence he can play SS or 3B.  If that is so he needs to start playing those positions. 

[welch]

Updating:

- Baker was drafted as a favor to his dad
- Baker isn't a prospect
- Baker got lucky at Fredricksburg (.318 / .352 / .394 in 18 games)
- Baker won't be able to hit at A+ (.273 / .333 / .367 in 62 games)
- Baker won't get past AA (.290 / .356 / .361 in 43 games)
- Baker will be overmatched at AAA (.331 / .410 / .420 in 41 games)
- Baker doesn't have enough minor league games to draw any conclusions
- Baker is at best a backup IF at the major league level <-----YOU ARE HERE
- Baker is an everyday player at the major league level
- Baker is an all-star
- Baker is a future hall of famer
- Baker is traded before free agency because he won't accept 13 / $600 million
- Baker posts .202 / .258 / .217 for the Mets in the first year of his 13 / $600 million contract
- Baker attacks a fan
- Baker retires
- Baker signs with the Long Island Ducks

Good update.

[welch]

Today, 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Hitting .327 with .818 OPS

https://www.milb.com/gameday/red-wings-vs-mud-hens/2023/05/24/722711#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=722711

[welch]

2-for-4 with an RBI tonight. Lifts average to .328

[imref]

7-day IL

[welch]

7-day IL

So that's it. I've looked for his name in the box scores.

[nobleisthyname]

Charlie and Dave said it was a groin strain. Hopefully he comes back soon.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

#9 on Fangraphs list of Nats prospects. Really a tremendous earned bump up in his projections. 40+ FV. driver is his hit tool 55 CV / 60 FV, with adequate speed and fielding.  Power is the big weakness, with an arm fit for 2d or LF.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/washington-nationals-top-31-prospects-2023/

The sweet-swinging Baker has begun to see some time in the outfield. He played one game in center field in early May and, just before list publication, played left field three times in a single series. It would make Baker much more rosterable if he could play a second position, and left field is a logical side hustle because Baker doesn’t have the arm strength for the left side of the infield and is still learning how to read the ball off the bat there. He is already a mixed bag at second base, with below-average hands, arm strength, and slow-twitch athleticism, relying on his elegant body control and predictably great on-field awareness to succeed. Baker will make some highlight reel plays because of his effort and acrobatic flare, but he’s an average overall defender.

He’s also a skilled contact hitter, with among the lowest swinging strike rates in the minors and one of the prettier swings in pro baseball, with a very athletic move to the baseball. Baker is short to the ball and can let pitches travel deep before deciding to swing. He can turn on anything on the inner third and spoils lots of tough pitches that he gets an extra beat to diagnose because he’s so compact. There’s low-and-away oppo ability here, but Baker tends to take pitches on the outer edge until he has to swing at them. Again, we’re not talking about an explosive athlete, as Baker is skilled and graceful but not especially twitchy or strong. He’s still very lanky and could conceivably add meaningful strength deeper into his 20s than is typical of most players. That’s the projection here, that Baker initially finds his way onto the big league roster as a 2B/LF part-timer and has some peak years as a second division everyday second baseman.

[Slateman]

#9 on Fangraphs list of Nats prospects. Really a tremendous earned bump up in his projections. 40+ FV. driver is his hit tool 55 CV / 60 FV, with adequate speed and fielding.  Power is the big weakness, with an arm fit for 2d or LF.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/washington-nationals-top-31-prospects-2023/

Just have Dad's buddy Barry introduce him to PEDs. Problem solved.

[imref]

Updating:

- Baker was drafted as a favor to his dad
- Baker isn't a prospect
- Baker got lucky at Fredricksburg (.318 / .352 / .394 in 18 games)
- Baker won't be able to hit at A+ (.273 / .333 / .367 in 62 games)
- Baker won't get past AA (.290 / .356 / .361 in 43 games)
- Baker will be overmatched at AAA (.331 / .410 / .420 in 41 games)
- Baker doesn't have enough minor league games to draw any conclusions
- Baker is at best a backup IF at the major league level
- Baker is an everyday player at the major league level<-----YOU ARE HERE
- Baker is an all-star
- Baker is a future hall of famer
- Baker is traded before free agency because he won't accept 13 / $600 million
- Baker posts .202 / .258 / .217 for the Mets in the first year of his 13 / $600 million contract
- Baker attacks a fan
- Baker retires
- Baker signs with the Long Island Ducks

[welch]

Updating:

- Baker was drafted as a favor to his dad
- Baker isn't a prospect
- Baker got lucky at Fredricksburg (.318 / .352 / .394 in 18 games)
- Baker won't be able to hit at A+ (.273 / .333 / .367 in 62 games)
- Baker won't get past AA (.290 / .356 / .361 in 43 games)
- Baker will be overmatched at AAA (.331 / .410 / .420 in 41 games)
- Baker doesn't have enough minor league games to draw any conclusions
- Baker is at best a backup IF at the major league level
- Baker is an everyday player at the major league level<-----YOU ARE HERE
- Baker is an all-star
- Baker is a future hall of famer
- Baker is traded before free agency because he won't accept 13 / $600 million
- Baker posts .202 / .258 / .217 for the Mets in the first year of his 13 / $600 million contract
- Baker attacks a fan
- Baker retires
- Baker signs with the Long Island Ducks

Seems about right, if we trust the same "experts" who insisted that Baker would be assigned a uniform with Fredericksburg, go to a practice, and be sent home. Same "experts" seem to now say that Baker looks like a better fielder than he is because mumbo-jumbo-pseudo-techie-reason he accidentally makes spectacular glove plays.

[RD]

I've seen that he's played some OF recently. That's a good move. Obviously people continue to underestimate him, but if he could be that super sub, that would be nice. Abrams and Garcia seem to have him blocked, so he needs to be flexible. If he could play the 3 IF spots aside from 1b, plus some OF, he could have a valuable role. I know he's injured now, but hopefully he starts to get more work around the diamond before he's called up. People say he's not athletic enough or doesn't have the arm for the left side, but guys like David Eckstein found a way to make it work for awhile. As a reserve option, you can put up with it.

[Natsinpwc]

Apparently he is not that good defensively and cannot okay SS/3B at all.  And does not hot for power. Hard to see a long term spot for him on an MLB roster. After trying OF is a good move.

[Slateman]

Apparently he is not that good defensively and cannot okay SS/3B at all.  And does not hot for power. Hard to see a long term spot for him on an MLB roster. After trying OF is a good move.

Maybe CF. But with such weak contact, he's not gonna stick in LF

[Natsinpwc]

I would add that in the old days when you had 15 position players on a roster it was easier to find spots for utility guys who played just a couple positions. Gregg Gross comes to mind. Now with usually 13 pitchers and only 13 everyday guys including a DH there are only three back ups outside the catcher. Need defensive versatility or be a really top notch hitter.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Eckstein's history is hopeful comp. The kid's tools have always been questioned, so the "he can't play left side of the infield" seems right in line with that.  That said, I agree the easiest path to the majors would be as a super-utility guy. The contact and strike zone judgment kind of fits with that role. If your playing time is irregular, then you kind of want to be simple in the hitting approach. No complicated timing and load. As for the D, I'm not sure I ever heard Eckstein described as elegant. If he's an average infielder defensively, then I'm not greedy.

I'll actually be interested if Garcia or even Abrams is the one who ends up getting moved. 

[Slateman]

I would add that in the old days when you had 15 position players on a roster it was easier to find spots for utility guys who played just a couple positions. Gregg Gross comes to mind. Now with usually 13 pitchers and only 13 everyday guys including a DH there are only three back ups outside the catcher. Need defensive versatility or be a really top notch hitter.

I think you will see that more with a universal DH. No more bench bats that only pinch hit. Teama can use the DH to rest guys and rotate out different defenders

[Elvir Ovcina]

Why not just get him to the Ducks right now and finish the list?

[UMDNats]

What evidence is there that this guy isn't just Steve Lombardozzi?

[imref]

What evidence is there that this guy isn't just Steve Lombardozzi?

well, for one thing, Lombardozzi is 35 now.