Washington Nationals news & notes: Darren Baker earns big league opportunity…

Notes and quotes on Darren Baker making his MLB debut…

“Obviously you’ve got bloodlines there,” former Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting and current West Coast Crosschecker Mark Baca told reporters after the Nationals drafted Darren Baker, son of former Washington manager Dusty Baker, for the second time (2017/2021).

“He’s a really good player. Intelligent. You watch him play on the field, so that’s a big trait, he’s got tools, he’s very versatile. He can play second, play center, he can run, so that was obviously — with his father Dusty — we really liked the player, everything about the way that his clock works, great instincts. We really like the player.”

“He kind of dialed it up a notch this year,” then-VP of Scouting Operations and the current Special Assistant to the GM Kris Kline said on the second day of the 2021 Draft, of Baker, who was coming off of an impressive season at the University of California, Berkeley, where the infielder hit .327 with six doubles, 17 RBIs, 28 BBs, 28 stolen bases, and 40 runs scored.

“Stole a bunch of bags. Had a nice year and you pull for these guys like this. He’s been around the game his whole life. We were very excited to get him where we got him [in the 10th Round]. I’m sure Dusty is pretty pumped too.”

In four seasons in the minor leagues with the Nationals, before he was called up to make his MLB debut late this past season, Baker put up a combined .286/.348/.354 line in 346 games, with a .285/.348/.340 line, 20 doubles, 38 stolen bases (in 43 attempts), 43 walks, and 91 Ks at Triple-A Rochester.

“There’s no charity call-ups in this game,” GM and President of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo told Audacy’s The Sports Junkies in addressing the idea Darren getting a shot was anything other than an instance of a player earning the opportunity.

“It’s too valuable a roster spot to do a favor for him. This kid has proven himself at every level and played very well at Triple-A for almost two seasons, so he’s earned the right to get that big league uniform on. And it was a fun phone call to make to Dusty to tell him his kid was coming to the big leagues.”

“I’ve known the kid for a long time, he’s got great makeup, he’s a wonderful kid,” Rizzo added.

“Also, he knows how to play the game.

“He’s got a high baseball IQ, he’s a good runner, he’s a good base stealer.”

Rizzo described Baker as a, “… contact hitter [who] can play several positions for us. We see him as a guy that can be a big part of the future for us.

“Being a complementary player to the other guys that we have in the system.”

“Darren has done really well the last two years in Rochester,” Nats’ manager Davey Martinez told reporters after Baker got the call.

“A guy that can help us in multiple ways, defensively, hitting, he’s got good bat-to-ball skills, left-handed hitter, can play different positions. So he deserved a chance to come up here and play up here a little bit and see what we’ve got.

“I’m sure Dusty is on his way if he’s not here already, so it will be good to see him as well and get to see his son play in the big leagues.”

“I always thought he was going to be [a big league player] because that’s what he wanted,” Dusty Baker said, as quoted by MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato.

“He put in the time and the effort. I thought he had the talent to do it. … He’s not in awe being out there. He’s thankful, but he feels comfortable, like home.”

“I think it does feel comfortable,” Darren said, “especially this one [Nationals Park]. I knew how to get here. I didn’t have to put it into my phone or anything. So I felt comfortable just showing up.”

And being back in Nationals Park to play this time, and not as the manager’s son?

“It’s a little different,” he acknowledged.

“I think it kind of makes me unique. I’ve had a lot of different experiences and people I’ve crossed paths with to get to this point. And I’m still just getting started. We’ll see where it goes, but I’m grateful for everything.”

Baker was one of 10 Nationals to make their MLB debuts this past season. He finished up 7 for 14 with two doubles in nine games in his first run in the majors.

“[He] is not afraid,” Martinez said after a 3 for 4 game by Baker on September 19th, after he singled on the first pitch he saw in the majors.

“Like I said, he’s a good baseball player, he’s going to give you everything he has out there every day.”

“He knows himself really well. He didn’t try to do too much, he stayed on the ball, hit a couple balls the other was really, really well, so that was awesome to see.”

“[Baker] had hits in five of seven games in which he had an at-bat,” the Nationals noted in their Season in Review, “… including going 4-for-8 with a double and a run scored in his two starts [and] 3-for-5 as PH.”

In the minors, Baker, “ranked in top five in the WSH org. in SB (1st, 38), hits (1st, 124), runs (1st, 70), AVG (2nd, .285) and OBP (4th, .348) at the time of his call up.

“Defensively, he was tied for the Minor League lead with 9 [defensive] runs saved at second base, according to Sports Info Solutions, at the time of recall.”

What do the Nationals have in Baker. An interesting bench option? A utility man, who can run the bases, provided solid defense? One thing is for sure, he’s more than just a good story.