Being at Major League Baseball games is nothing new for second baseman Darren Baker. After all, he has been at plenty of them while tagging along with his father, legendary manager Dusty Baker. But on Sunday, Darren finally got the opportunity to play in one.
Darren was called up by the Washington Nationals from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday and got his first taste of majors on the same day. He made a plate appearance as a pinch hitter in a 1-14 loss to the Chicago Cubs and recorded his first MLB hit.
Darren is familiar with the Nationals organization, considering that his father managed the team in 2017 and 2018. The franchise selected him in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
“I had run it through my head as a kid [as to] what it would be like, and it’s pretty close,” Darren said after the game. “I was kind of shocked. It kind of settled in, and I feel like I belong. I’m happy.”
While his father is a baseball legend, Darren Baker earned the call up on his own. He had a strong run with Rochester this season, appearing in 112 games and batting .285 with 46 RBIs and 38 stolen bases. And judging by comments from Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez, more MLB action might be coming his way.
“Darren has done really well the last two years in Rochester,” said Martinez. “He’s 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. He deserved a chance to come up here.”
