The Washington Nationals added some major league pedigree Sunday when they placed infielder/outfielder Darren Baker on the active roster.
The 25-year-old is the son of former major league player and manager Dusty Baker, who played 19 seasons (1968-86) with four clubs and was a manager for 26 seasons, including 10 with the San Francisco Giants (1993-2002). He also managed the Nationals (2016-17) and led the Houston Astros to the 2022 World Series title.
The Nationals also called up right-hander Zach Brzykcy as major league rosters expanded by two players for the final month of the regular season.
Darren Baker has never played in the major leagues but has drawn plenty of World Series attention in the past.
As a 3-year-old batboy for the Giants in the 2002 World Series, Baker ran onto the field to retrieve a bat during Game 5 against the then-Anaheim Angels while a play was ongoing. The Giants’ J.T. Snow, who had just crossed home plate following a Kenny Lofton triple, lifted the younger Baker by the back of his jacket to avoid a collision with David Bell, who was about to score.
In 112 games at Triple-A Rochester this season, Baker batted .285 with 20 doubles and 49 RBIs but did not hit a home run in 435 at-bats. He was in his fourth minor league season after four years in college at Cal. The Nationals selected him in the 10th round in 2021.
Brzykcy, 25, is also headed to the major leagues for the first time. He was 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in 30 appearances (two starts) at four different minor league levels this season.