It’s been 22 years since Darren Baker was part of a memorable moment during the 2002 World Series. More than two decades after he became an inadvertent postseason highlight as a 3-year-old, Dusty Baker’s son will be called up to the majors by the Washington Nationals when MLB rosters are allowed to expand Sunday.
Baker, now 25, is a second baseman and outfielder who batted. 285 with a .688 OPS, 20 doubles, two triples, 49 RBI and 38 stolen bases with Triple-A Rochester this season. He was drafted twice by the Nationals, first in 2017 out of high school as a 27th-rounder, then in the 10th round out of UC Berkeley.
For those who might not recall or weren’t old enough to remember, Dusty Baker’s son was a bat boy for the San Francisco Giants when they played the then-Anaheim Angels in the World Series. During the bottom of the seventh in Game 5, Kenny Lofton hit a triple to deep right field.
Baker wandered a bit too close to home plate as runners were scoring. In danger of getting run over by professional athletes, Giants first baseman J.T. Snow picked up Baker and carried him out of harm’s way in one of the most touching moments ever seen on a baseball field.
In Game 5 of the 2002 World Series, J.T. Snow pulled Dusty Baker’s son and Giants bat boy, Darren Baker, out of the way during a play at the plate.
22 years later, the Nationals are calling Darren up to the big leagues. 👏 pic.twitter.com/0pOQd3scdY
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 31, 2024
As a result, MLB instituted a rule that all bat boys must be at least 14 years old. That may have been the younger Baker’s baseball legacy until he progressed through the Nationals’ minor league system and earned a call-up to the majors.
Where exactly Baker will play in the Nationals’ lineup is uncertain with young players Luis Garcia Jr. (.292, .784 OPS) at second base and James Wood (.279, .801 OPS) manning left field. Perhaps he’ll see time in center field and designated hitter, but his positional versatility should allow manager Dave Martinez to plug him in throughout the lineup when someone needs rest or a left-handed bat with speed is deemed necessary.
