The San Francisco Giants are close to signing Darren Baker, the son of former manager Dusty Baker, to a minor league contract, according to reports. The deal, first reported by Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, would send the 27-year-old to Triple-A Sacramento, the Giants' highest minor league affiliate.
Baker, a utility player who has seen time at second base and in the outfield, was originally drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Cal. He made his major league debut in 2024, appearing in nine games for the Nationals and recording seven hits in 14 at-bats. He had signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox before the 2025 season but has been limited to just 11 or 13 games at Triple-A this year due to an unspecified injury, depending on the report.
A Homecoming of Sorts
Baker grew up in Northern California, attending Jesuit High School in Carmichael before going to Cal. He also served as a bat boy for the Giants during his father's tenure as manager, a role that gained national attention during the 2002 World Series when, as a three-year-old, he ran onto the field to retrieve a bat and was scooped up by first baseman T. Snow. The incident prompted Major League Baseball to institute a rule requiring bat boys to be at least 14 years old, informally known as the "Darren Baker Rule."
His father, Dusty Baker, managed the Giants from 1993 to 2002, leading the team to the World Series in 2002. After leaving San Francisco, Dusty managed four other teams and won his first World Series championship as a manager in 2022 with the Houston Astros. He rejoined the Giants in 2024 as a special adviser to president of baseball operations Buster Posey.
Continuing a Trend
Baker's expected addition continues a pattern for the Giants this season of bringing in players with family ties to franchise greats. The organization has already added Kaeden Kent, the son of former second baseman Jeff Kent, and Peyton Bonds, the nephew of Barry Bonds. All three are now in the Giants' minor league system.
Given the Giants' current standing — they hold a 57-81 record — and their recent tendency to call up prospects from Triple-A Sacramento, there is a possibility Baker could see major league action with the club before the season ends.