Notes and quotes on Darren Baker getting to start in the majors for the first time … in Wrigley Field.
BAKER IN WRIGLEY:
Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez told reporters in New York, where Washington dropped three straight to the Mets, Luis García, Jr. was dealing with a sore right wrist which he felt after a swing in the second game of the series in Citi Field.
“After that last swing he took he said it was bothering him a little bit, so I took him out for precaution. We’ll see how he’s doing tomorrow,” the manager said.
“He’s had it earlier this year, and it kind of went away,” Martinez explained the next day, “… and he started feeling it a little bit again over the past week. He took one swing yesterday and said he felt it, so we got him out of there.”
Before the series opener with the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field last night, Martinez said it was still an issue for García, so he decided to send Darren Baker out for the first start since coming up to the majors.
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“Darren Baker gets to start at second base today, which I’m excited about. Get him in there. I know he got a pinch hit hit yesterday, so he gets a few at-bats today and we’ll see how he does.”
Baker’s hit in the finale with the Mets left him 2 for 5 in five games since he was added to the roster when they expanded earlier this month.
“There’s no charity call-ups in this game, it’s too valuable a roster spot to do a favor for him,” GM and President of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo told 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports Junkies when the Nationals called Baker up after drafting the now-25-year-old son of former Nats’ manager Dusty Baker in the 10th Round of the ‘21 Draft, four years after they selected him in the 27th Round in 2017.
“This kid has proven himself at every level and played very well at Triple-A for almost two seasons,” Rizzo said, “…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.”
In 112 games and 483 plate appearances at Triple-A Rochester this season, Baker put up a .285/.348/.340 line with 20 doubles, 38 stolen bases (in 43 attempts), 43 walks, and 91 Ks, giving him a combined .286/.348/.354 line in four seasons and 346 games in the minors.
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“I’ve known the kid for a long time, he’s got great makeup, he’s a wonderful kid,” Rizzo said.
“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.
“A contact hitter that can play several positions for us, we see him as a guy that can be a big part of the future for us.”
Martinez talked about the advice he offered for Baker going into his first start in the majors.
“I told him: ‘Just be where your feet are, understand what you’re trying to do each play, know the situations, and go have fun.’
“He’s getting an opportunity here to play for the first time starting in the major leagues, which is pretty awesome.”
The challenges of playing a full game in the majors after sporadic opportunities in his first few weeks in the big leagues.
“There’s going to be situations that arise during the game,” Martinez said, “just understand what you want to do at any particular moment. He’s a good baseball player. He understands the game. I mean, he grew up in a baseball family. I just want him to go out there and just have fun, not put pressure on himself. Just go out there and try to help us win a game.”
Baker, who was born in 1999, spent time in Wrigley Field as a young kid when Dusty was the Cubs’ manager (2003-2006), so it was a nice coincidence he got to start his first game in a ballpark he knew well.
But it was just a coincidence, Martinez said. “It kind of happened.”
“After last night, I said Luis still sore, I said, ‘You know what? Darren’s going to play second today.’
“So I wanted to give him an opportunity. And if Luis doesn’t get better, I might let Baker play second against righties.”
Baker went 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored in the Nationals’ 7-6 loss in a back-and-forth opener with the Cubbies, his first multi-hit game in the majors.
“[Baker] is not afraid,” Martinez told reporters after the game.
“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,” the manager added. “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.”