| Darren Baker | |
| Team: | Washington Nationals |
| Number: | 10 |
| Position: | Second baseman |
| Birth Date: | 11 February 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Redwood City, California, U.S. |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 1 |
| Debutyear: | 2024 |
| Debutteam: | Washington Nationals |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | September 21, 2024 |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .462 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 0 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 0 |
| Teams: |
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Darren John Baker (born February 11, 1999) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB).
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]
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]