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WASHINGTON - Darren Baker did the little things in his pro debut in the Florida Complex League, according to his manager.
And that should not be a surprise for the son of veteran major league skipper Dusty Baker, who led the Nationals to division titles in 2016 and 2017.
Darren Baker was drafted in the 10th round out of the University of California by the Nationals earlier this year.
The second baseman hit .400 in four games in Florida before he was promoted to low Single-A Fredericksburg.
Darren Baker legged out an INF 1B and turned an *incredible* double play in his @FXBGNats debut.@DarrenBaker_2 // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/QSQ09ZnrxV
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 26, 2021
“He had quality at-bats every game, every at-bat,” Florida Complex League manager Jake Lowery said of the younger Baker.
“He had a couple of lineouts. He went from first to third on a hit. He did a lot of things you would expect as an older college player.
“He did the little things; I am excited for him to go up to Low-A. He has definitely been around the game.”
The younger Baker hit .278 in his first five games for Fredericksburg and drove in a run.
On Thursday, he was 1-for-3 at Salem against the Red Sox’ farm team.
Darren Baker is making quite a first impression in his FredNats debut... pic.twitter.com/Yt6vnlCfsy
— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 26, 2021
In Florida, he drove in his first run at the pro level and also had a double.
For now, Darren Baker is not a power hitter but the Nats feel like his slugging percentage will improve over time.
His father was an All-Star outfielder who hit 242 homers in a Major League career that lasted from 1968 to 1986.
Dusty Baker hit a career-high 30 homers in 1977 with the Los Angels Dodgers. The current Houston Astros’ manager began his Major League career with Atlanta, and ended up with Oakland.