WASHINGTON — Darren Baker spent a lot of his childhood round baseball. Sunday was the primary time he awakened understanding he was a serious leaguer.
The second baseman, the son of two-time All-Star and longtime supervisor Dusty Baker, was one of many Washington Nationals’ roster additions when he had his contract chosen from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.
“I did not want an alarm right this moment,” stated Darren Baker, who realized of his callup Saturday.
Baker made his big-league debut as a pinch hitter for the Nationals within the ninth inning of a 14-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He singled to middle on the primary pitch he noticed.
Baker’s first two calls had been to his mother and father, who arrived in Washington from the West Coast early Sunday morning and arrived in time for the Nationals’ sequence finale in opposition to the Chicago Cubs.
The 25-year-old, Washington’s Tenth-round choose in 2021, hit .285 with 49 RBI and 38 stolen bases at Rochester, might play some outfield as well as throughout his time in Washington.
“He was introduced up a baseball participant,” Washington supervisor Dave Martinez stated. “He understands the sport and is aware of the way to play the sport. He steals bases if you want him to. He places the ball in play to get guys over and knocks in some massive runs. All that stuff. He is only a baseball participant.”
Darren Baker was concerned in a memorable play throughout Sport 5 of the 2002 World Sequence when, as a 3-year-old bat boy whereas his dad was managing in San Francisco, he was swept out of hazard by J.T. Snow in the midst of a play.
“That is one thing he does not even bear in mind,” Dusty Baker stated. “He is reminded of it continually, however he does not bear in mind. That is fairly a narrative. On the time, it appeared sort of humorous or embarrassing or no matter, however within the full circle of life, perhaps it was speculated to occur.”
Certainly one of Dusty Baker’s managerial stops was in Washington in 2016 and 2017, and Darren Baker hung out in these summers across the Nationals. The youthful Baker stated Sunday he felt snug within the clubhouse, significantly Washington’s since he knew precisely the way to get there.
That is only one side of an already-rich baseball life Baker will construct on as he begins his main league profession.
“I’ve had lots of completely different experiences and folks I’ve crossed paths with to get so far, and I am nonetheless simply getting began,” Baker stated. “We’ll see the place it goes, however I am grateful for it.”
