Darren Baker, Son of Astros Manager Dusty, Taken by Nationals in 2021 MLB Draft
Washington Nationals Alerts
Baseball fans, it’s time to feel old.
Darren Baker, the son of Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB draft.
Yes, that’s the same Darren Baker who needed to be scooped up by San Francisco Giants first baseman J.T. Snow at home plate in the 2002 World Series.
Baker was originally a draftee of the Nationals in 2017 after coming off the board in the 27th round.
The 22-year-old spent his college career with the California Golden Bears. Over four seasons, he batted .303 with 58 stolen bases in 167 games. He was a member of the Pac-12’s All-Defensive team in 2019 and 2021.
2021 Baseball Roster
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- @DarrenBaker_2
- Major
- American Studies
- High School
- Jesuit HS
- Hometown
- Granite Bay, Calif.
- Bat/Throw
- L/R
- Height/Weight
- 6-0 / 180
- Class
- Senior
- Position
- Infield
Nationals draft Darren Baker, son of Astros manager Dusty Baker, in 10th round
Darren Baker, the son of Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker and once at the center of one of the iconic moments of the 2002 World Series, was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 10th round of the MLB Draft on Monday. A second baseman for the University of California, Baker was the 293rd player taken in this year’s draft.
Nineteen years ago, Baker was a 3-year-old bat boy for the San Francisco Giants, the team his father managed, when he became part of baseball history. As Baker went out to retrieve a bat during a run-scoring play in the seventh inning of Game 5, J.T. Snow famously scooped him up as he crossed home plate, preventing what could have been a collision.
“That play is always the first thing I get asked about,” Baker told The Athletic in 2019. “We could have won an important game, maybe I did something to help the team win, and it’s always the first thing I get asked about.”
Baker had his best season as a senior for Cal in 2021, batting .327 and stealing 28 bases in 55 games. He ended his college career with 123 consecutive starts dating back to his sophomore season.
Dusty Baker managed the Nationals from 2016-17. He became the Astros manager in 2020.
What do the Nationals see in Baker?
The Nationals have watched Baker since he was a junior in high school in 2016, the first year his father managed in Washington. They liked him enough to use their 27th-round selection on him in 2017.
Baker went on to Cal, where he “turned it up a notch” as a senior, said Nationals head of amateur scouting Kris Kline, and used his speed to his advantage. Kline said he would like to see Baker lean in even more and become proficient at drag bunts. Baker is an intelligent player and versatile enough to play center field and second base.
Baker’s legacy in San Francisco
It’s not hyperbolic to suggest that Darren Baker is an iconic character in Giants history. Snow played 1,716 major-league games over 16 seasons, and he’ll still be asked about The Save for the rest of his life.
While it would have been fun for the Giants to bring him into their organization, they went pitcher-heavy this draft. It also would have been impolite to draft a human reminder that we’re all getting older and there’s nothing we can do to stop it, so there’s that, too.
5 Comments
Mike G.
12h ago
1 like
I have no idea if his talent justifies the pick, but if it doesn’t it might be a clever move. Get him to sign for a ridiculously low amount of money which frees up your pool for the other top 10 picks
Nathan B.
12h ago
2 likes
He deserves it, he can play. Thought for sure Darren would be a top-5 round pick. Good for the Nats
Matthew W.
12h ago
1 like
Where’s JT Snow when you need him?
DAVID S.
10h ago
Good for the Nats. I wish the Giants or A’s had drafted him, but so be it.
Dan H.
8h ago
1 like
I hope he’s able to carve out a career for himself. Seems like an intriguing player who can hit, run, control the strike zone and play some premium defensive positions… things that are always in high demand.
Jake C.
4m ago
So uh… why were the Giants sending out a 3 year old bat boy? Manager’s son or not, World Series or not, that’s a bad idea.
Backstory
Amid draft disappointment, Cal’s Darren Baker is focused on making a difference
Andrew Baggarly
Jun 12, 2020
Baker, projected to be a possible third-round pick, was one of many college juniors left out in the cold in a shortened draft.
Gammons: Darren Baker, son of Dusty, is making a name for himself
Peter Gammons
Jun 24, 2019
Best known for one iconic moment in World Series history, Darren Baker is now making a name for himself in the Cape Cod League.
Dusty Baker’s son drafted by Nationals
A Baker is back in Washington.
The Nationals selected Darren Baker, the son of Astros manager Dusty Baker, with their final pick of Monday’s portion of the MLB Draft. Dusty Baker managed the Nationals from 2016-17.
The Nationals drafted Darren when he left high school in 2017, but he opted to play at Cal. Darren started all four years at second base, where he was twice named to the All-Pac 12 Defensive Team.
Darren made first-team All-Pac 12 this season after posting a career-high in batting average (.327), on-base percentage (.402) and stolen bases (28). Dusty Baker got to watch him play against Stanford during a road trip to Oakland earlier this season.
Baseball America ranked Darren No. 187 in its list of Top 500 draft prospects.
Dusty Baker’s Son Donates 100 Meals For Coronavirus Relief
Darren Baker, now playing at Cal, became famous as a bat boy at age 3 in Game 5 of the 2002 World Series
Dusty Baker always has been one of the most respected people in baseball, both on and off the field. His son, Darren, already is following in his footsteps.
Darren, a second baseman at Cal, announced Tuesday that he donated 100 meals to Feeding America in order to help families who are struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic.
A post shared by Darren Baker (@__darrenbaker) on Mar 31, 2020 at 3:12pm PDT
Darren first became famous at just 3 years old in Game 5 of the 2002 World Series when J.T. Snow swooped up the young bat boy at home plate after scoring on a Kenny Lofton triple to give San Francisco a 10-4 lead over the Anaheim Angels. Now 21, he stars for the Cal baseball team.
Baker hit .306 and was a perfect 21-for-21 on stolen base attempts as a sophomore when he made the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. He started off slow this year, but finished his junior season batting .286 before Cal’s season was canceled after only 16 games. Before the season ended, though, he did lead Cal in hits (18) and runs scored (15).
Going into his junior season, many saw Baker as a rising draft prospect. He really impressed at the plate this summer in the Cape Cod League, is one of the best defensive infielders in the country and his speed can change games. Even more important, he’s a leader as displayed with his latest act of kindness.
“He’s a big-time leader,” Cal manager Mike Neu said to NBC Sports Bay Area in February. “Obviously his playing experience here, his background with who he’s learned from — not just his dad but the big leaguers he’s been around, I mean it just automatically gives him so much of a foundation for him and for our whole team.
“He’s a leader and he’s been great in that role.”
With the elder Baker then managing San Francisco to a runner-up finish that season, Darren was caught a little too close to the action as the Giants’ bat boy who slugger J.T. Snow scooped away from any potential danger.
Though the Giants left with a dominant Game 5 win, perhaps the young Baker’s avoided collision was an omen of things to come as San Francisco dropped Games 6 and 7 to the Anaheim Angels. Fast forward 19 years, and Darren Baker is a Washington National.
Projected as high as the fifth round, Washington nabbed Darren in the 10th despite him coming off an All-Pac-12 First Team senior campaign in which he led all Bears with a .327 average as well as 28 stolen bases.
Of course, Dusty Baker has his own history with the Nats as Davey Martinez’s predecessor, leading the team through consecutive Game 5 exits in the National League Divisional Series in 2016 and 2017.
