John Baker
| AB | 1076 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .247 |
| OBP | .33 |
| SLG | .341 |
| HR | 14 |
- Full name John David Baker
- Born 01/20/1981 in Alameda, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School California
- Debut 07/09/2008
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Drafted in the 4th round (128th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2002.
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C John Baker is another solid receiver with good catch-and-throw skills. Some scouts question his potential with the bat--even though his .393 average ranked second in the Pacific-10 Conference and he's a lefthanded-hitting catcher.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Baker is a poor man's version of Daric Barton, with a similar profile but four years older and with a lower ceiling. Both are offensive-minded catchers whose fringy defensive skills likely will force them to move. Baker continued to hit in 2004 and added power to his game, drilling 15 homers after totaling just eight in his first two seasons. He was impressive after a final-month promotion to Triple-A. Baker crowds the plate and uses a short stroke from the left side of the plate. He needs to improve his ability to go the other way with outside pitches, and his strike-zone judgment has deteriorated as he has risen through the minors. Baker has put in extra work to improve his defense, but he'll go only as far as his bat will take him. His arm is below average, and a labrum tear prior to the 2004 season only made things worse. He threw out just 17 percent of basestealers last year. His other defensive skills are also adequate at best, leaving first base as his only other logical position. Baker will begin 2005 in Triple-A and should make his major league debut at some point. -
Baker ranks as the best defensive catcher among Oakland farmhands, though that's more a reflection of the state of the system than any Gold Glove prowess on his part. He's an offense-first player with power to both alleys and good plate discipline. He does a good job of putting the sweet spot of the bat on the ball, though he could make more consistent contact. Low Class A pitchers were no match for him, though he cooled off after a promotion to Double-A. Baker didn't begin to catch until his sophomore season at California, but he's highly intelligent and learns quickly. The A's have been pleased with his defensive progress, as his receiving skills are average and his blocking ability is adequate. The biggest question is his arm, which is fringe average at best. He threw out just 23 percent of basestealers in 2003 before straining his shoulder late in the season. He was limited to DH duty in instructional league. Baker likely will begin 2004 in Double-A, where he may split time behind the plate with Jeremy Brown.
Minor League Top Prospects
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He barely got mentioned in "Moneyball," but Baker may have a more realistic chance of one day becoming Oakland's everyday catcher than Jeremy Brown, a first-round pick and a central figure in the book. Even with a below-average arm, average receiving skills and adequate blocking ability, Baker is more likely to stay behind the plate. Like Brown, Baker will let his bat carry him. Though he doesn't control the strike zone as well as Brown, Baker is a disciplined hitter who uses the whole field and makes consistent sweet-spot contact. He did tail off markedly in Double-A, however, as did all of the A's 2002 draftees except Blanton. "He doesn't throw guys out because he has a fringe arm," the NL scout said. "But he's got a very good lefthanded swing and approach. He'll be an everyday catcher because of his bat."
