When September 1st arrives, the Washington Nationals will promote Darren Baker to the major leagues.
Darren, son of Dusty Baker, is set to join the team when rosters expand on Sunday. This news was reported by Talk Nats, although the team hasn’t made an official announcement yet.
Drafted in the tenth round in 2021, Darren is best known for being a ball boy for the San Francisco Giants back in 2002 when his dad managed the team. He had a memorable moment during Game 5 of the World Series when JT Snow saved him at home plate .
This season, Darren has a .285/.348/.340 batting line with 38 stolen bases in Triple-A. He mainly plays second base but has also tried outfield positions. Despite his speed and agility, he hasn’t hit any home runs this season and only six throughout his professional career.
Rising Prospects:
Baseball America ranks Darren as the No. 27 prospect in Washington’s farm system for 2024. Their report suggests he might be limited to a backup role due to his lack of power. With a record of 61-74, the Nationals are out of playoff contention and are using September to evaluate young talents like Darren and Dylan Crews—who just debuted Monday.
Dusty Baker retired from managing last season at age 75 after leading Houston Astros to a World Series title in 2022. His managerial career boasts 2,183 wins—eighth most all-time—and he was also an impressive player with nearly two decades in MLB.
The new rules for September roster expansion allow each team one extra pitcher and one additional position player instead of calling up their entire roster.
Fans might find this news exciting as they look forward to seeing fresh faces on their favorite teams.
What do you think about these changes?
