Luken Baker - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Showing increased bat speed Baker has shown increased bat speed this spring and has hit a team-leading three home runs in 11 Grapefruit League games, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact Baker made it a point over the offseason to increase his bat speed, and it sits at 79 mph this spring, up 5.1 mph over his 73.9 mph average from 2024. The 79 mph average would have ranked second in all of baseball last season, behind only Giancarlo Stanton (81.2 mph). Baker should open the season as a starter versus left-handed pitching, being used both at designated hitter and first base. If he can carry over the increased bat speed into the season, it's possible he works his way into some playing time against righties.

MARCH 13 • ROTOWIRE

'I guess someone had a good offseason': How Baker is turning heads in camp JUPITER, Fla. \-\- When informed that only two MLB players have increased their bat speed more from the 2024 season to a limited sample from...

MARCH 12 • MLB.COM

Team rejected overseas overtures The Cardinals declined overtures from teams overseas this offseason that wanted to acquire Baker's rights, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Goold says the Cardinals see Baker as being able to contribute as a right-handed batter off the bench and decided to keep him in that role instead. Baker will turn 28 soon and has topped 30 home runs each of the last two seasons at Triple-A Memphis, so there's nothing left for him to prove in the minors. However, it would probably take an injury or two for him to see regular at-bats with the Cardinals this season.

MARCH 2 • ROTOWIRE

Luken Baker's three-run blast helps Cardinals to 1st Grapefruit League win The Cardinals received three runs on a home run from designated hitter Luken Baker in their 7-4 Grapefruit League win over the New York Mets...

FEBRUARY 24 • STLTODAY.COM

Returns from paternity leave The Cardinals reinstated Baker from the paternity list Friday.

Impact After spending the three-game maximum away from the team, Baker will now return to the active roster, replacing Victor Scott, who was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Goes on paternity leave The Cardinals placed Baker on the paternity list Tuesday.

Impact Baker will likely miss the entirety of the three-game series in Colorado before rejoining the club this weekend in San Francisco. Victor Scott is taking Baker's spot on the Cardinals' roster.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

'It just feels right': Baker's single in 10th seals series win over Crew MILWAUKEE -- As the season wore on, and June turned into July and July became August, Luken Baker \-\- he of the 32 Minor League home runs a...

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 • MLB.COM

Luken Baker's 10th-inning hit lifts Cards over Brewers Luken Baker drove in the go-ahead run with a pinch single in the 10th inning to lift the visiting St.Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over t...

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 • KANSASCITY.COM

Baker singles in 10th to give Cardinals 2nd straight extra-inning win over Brewers, 3-2

Luken Baker singled home the go-ahead run with two outs in the 10th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Clubs second homer Baker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 14-7 win over the Yankees.

Impact Baker has just three hits over nine major-league contests, batting .167 since his Aug. 20 call-up, but all three knocks have gone for extra bases (two homers, one double). It doesn't look to be enough to secure steady playing time, but Baker offers the Cardinals some pop off the bench. He may occasionally start versus left-handers when Alec Burleson is covering for someone in the outfield or out of the lineup himself.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Appears set to lose work vs. RHPs Baker will serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Impact Though he's back in the lineup for the series finale, Baker looks poised to lose out on a regular starting role against right-handed pitching with the Cardinals seemingly planning to deploy the recently recalled Jordan Walker in an everyday role. With Walker settling in as the Cardinals' primary right fielder, Alec Burleson should serve as St. Louis' designated hitter in most games, though the lefty-hitting Burleson will get a rare day off Sunday against Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Appears set to lose work vs. RHPs Baker will serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Sunday's game against the Yankees.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Friday Baker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees.

Impact Baker will take a seat Friday against Marcus Stroman and the Yankees. In Baker's place, Alec Burleson will DH and bat second.

AUGUST 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up steal in win Baker went 0-for-2 with two walks, one RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Padres.

Impact Baker is hitting just .133 over eight contests since he was recalled from Triple-A Memphis, but he has drawn six walks in that span. That gives him a .364 on-base percentage. Baker has added a home run, five RBI, two runs scored and a double across 22 plate appearances. He's taken over for Matt Carpenter as the Cardinals' preferred designated hitter versus right-handed pitchers, and as a right-handed batter, Baker has a good chance of sticking in the lineup versus southpaws as well.

AUGUST 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Third straight start at DH Baker will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Thursday's game versus the Padres.

Impact It's Baker's third straight start at DH, which is especially notable given that all three of them have come against right-handers. He's also batted either third or fourth in each contest. The 27-year-old has produced back-to-back 30-homer seasons at Triple-A Memphis and could be worth a look in deeper leagues if the playing time sticks.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Homers off bench in win Baker hit a two-run home run in his lone at-bat in Wednesday's 10-6 extra-inning win over the Brewers.

Impact Baker provided a game-tying blast in the seventh inning to knot the score at 4-4. This was his first major-league at-bat of the season. The slugger slashed .209/.313/.314 with two homers and 10 RBI over 33 games in the majors last season, and he was slashing .231/.345/.535 with 32 homers and 79 RBI across 108 contests with Triple-A Memphis prior to his call-up Tuesday. Baker figures to be a short-side platoon option at designated hitter as well as a top bench bat whenever a southpaw reliever enters for an opponent. He may not get many starts, however, as starting catcher Willson Contreras is typically the DH when the Cardinals face lefty starters.

AUGUST 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Summoned from minors The Cardinals recalled Baker from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.

Impact Baker has slashed .231/.345/.535 with 32 home runs in 108 games this season at Memphis, which includes a 1.096 OPS versus left-handed pitching. The 27-year-old is blocked by Paul Goldschmidt at first base but figures to see some looks at designated hitter against southpaws.

AUGUST 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

2024 dynasty league sleepers: Luken Baker, Liover Peguero and more Looking for dynasty league sleepers to target in trades (or add via draft)? John Laghezza and Adam Ronis highlight six to consider.

FEBRUARY 22, 2024 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Lifts second homer Baker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 12-2 loss to the Padres.

Impact Baker produced the Cardinals' lone scoring play with his seventh-inning blast. He's seen steadier playing time over the last week, going 4-for-17 (.235) over his last six games. The 26-year-old is batting .217 with two homers, seven RBI, six runs scored and a double across 76 plate appearances in the majors this year. With the Cardinals in last in the NL Central, he'll likely get some more at-bats over the final week of the campaign as part of the evaluation for next season's roster.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets start in DH role Baker will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth Wednesday versus the Brewers.

Impact The 26-year-old should see an uptick in playing time over what remains of the 2023 regular season with Alec Burleson (thumb) joining Nolan Gorman (hamstring) on the injured list. Baker has gone 12-for-56 (.214) with 22 strikeouts through his first 22 games at the MLB level, but he was slashing .334/.440/.720 with 33 homers and 98 RBI in 84 games for Triple-A Memphis prior to being recalled in mid-August.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Belts first big-league homer Baker went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Saturday in a loss to the Phillies.

Impact Baker produced St. Louis' lone run of the contest with his solo shot off Zack Wheeler in the third inning. It was the 26-year-old's first major-league long ball, and there may be many more to come if his 33 homers over 84 games in the minors this season is any indication. Baker has played sparingly during his two call-ups to the big club, though he could start to see more opportunities down the stretch with the Cardinals sitting 12 games out of an NL wild-card spot.

AUGUST 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Baker's 1st HR ball takes wild path to Cards' dugout PHILADELPHIA -- Designated hitter Luken Baker was the lone bright spot for the Cardinals in their 12-1 loss to the Phillies on Saturday nigh...

AUGUST 27, 2023 • MLB.COM

Luken Baker SMACKS a solo home run to give the Cardinals an early lead over the Phillies

AUGUST 26, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Sitting versus lefty Baker is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Pittsburgh, Bally Sports Midwest reports.

Impact Baker has started just four of nine games since his recall and has now not been in the lineup three times in five contests versus southpaws over that time. The minor league's home run leader this season with 33 dingers, Baker has struggled during his few chances in the majors and the Cardinals don't seem terribly interested in giving him a longer look.

AUGUST 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets start at DH Baker is serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter and batting eighth Monday versus the Athletics.

Impact This will be Baker's first major-league game since he was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Memphis. The 26-year-old has struggled in limited action this season at baseball's highest level, but he's posted a tremendous .3334/.440/.720 batting line with 33 homers and 98 RBI across 84 games in the International League. Maybe he can carve out more playing time down the stretch on an out-of-contention St. Louis team.

AUGUST 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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Baker singles in 10th to give Cardinals 2nd straight extra-inning win over Brewers, 3-2

Luken Baker SMACKS a solo home run to give the Cardinals an early lead over the Phillies