Darren

Baker

Baker is the son of former MLB manager Dusty Baker, and will have a chance to make his MLB debut with this promotion. The 25-year-old has a chance to stick as a utility option, but isn’t likely to hit enough to be a regular; at least not a quality one.

Dusty’s son, who was famously rescued by Giants first baseman J.T. Snow after drifting out in front of home plate during the 2002 World Series when he was a three-year-old batboy, will make his big league debut when rosters expand later this weekend. The 25-year-old has put together a strong August to earn his first call-up to the majors. He projects as more of a utility specialist moving forward in Washington.

Rutledge, 24, made four starts for the Nationals during the 2023 season, registering a 6.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 12/6 K/BB ratio across 20 innings of work. He was always a longshot to crack the team’s Opening Day roster though. Rutledge posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and a 7/5 K/BB ratio over seven innings during Grapefruit League play.

It was a little surprising the Nationals didn’t call up Baker, rather than Jeter Downs, when Luis García was demoted, but Downs was on the 40-man and Dusty’s son isn’t. Baker is definitely the better player of the two right now, having hit .294/.368/.387 for Rochester. Perhaps he’s not better than Ildemaro Vargas, but the Nationals would at least be more interesting with Baker at second and Jake Alu at third than with Alu at second and Vargas at third.

Darren’s name has definitely helped get him some opportunities -- such as when he got to play in the Futures Game while his dad was managing the AL All-Stars last year -- but it’s hard to hold it against him. The 24-year-old, drafted in the 10th round in 2021, isn’t really a prospect, but he’s made himself into a solid ballplayer, having posted a .705 OPS in the minors last year. Today certainly had to be a thrill, especially considering that we’re talking about a player who hit one homer in four years in college and has three in 127 career minor league games.