Jeff Baker Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1793
AVG	.264
OBP	.318
SLG	.432
HR	54

Full name Jeffrey Glen Baker
Born 06/21/1981 in Bad Kissingen, Germany
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Clemson
Debut 04/04/2005
Drafted in the 4th round (111th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2002 (signed for $200,000).

View Draft Report

Baker continues to be the top college position player available, yet his .332-21-70 season has left something to be desired in the eyes of scouts. Baker started poorly when teams pitched around him early, giving him a lot of offspeed slop off the plate. He has exceptional bat speed and power, and he broke Matt LeCroy's school record for career homers. He also has the glove and arm to be a solid third baseman, once he adjusts his footwork. While scouts acknowledge Baker is a fine hitter, they also think he's overrated and has holes in his long swing. He has a big uppercut and could get overmatched by quality fastballs up or in once he starts using wood. His track record without aluminum isn't impressive, as he has hit .216 with two homers in two summers with Team USA. He might go in the first 10 picks, but if it's true that he wants a deal similar to the $9.5 million big league contract Mark Teixeira got from the Rangers last year--and Baker has the same agent, Scott Boras--then he could plummet toward the bottom of the first round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Signability and a poor history with wood bats dropped him to the fourth round of the 2002 draft, but he received a $2 million big league contact and has hit .306 in pro ball. Baker will go as far as his bat carries him. He has legitimate power and the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. His professional approach at the plate allows him to stay on breaking balls. He has the arm strength and enough speed and athleticism to become a solid outfielder. Baker's development has been slowed by injuries, as he repeatedly missed time in his first three pro seasons with wrist and thumb ailments. Last year marked the first time he topped 400 at-bats in pro ball, and he finally achieved the success Colorado expected. He has always struck out frequently, which will be a tradeoff for his production. He's still learning the nuances of playing the outfield. The Rockies will find a place for Baker, because he provides a valuable righthanded bat and the versatility to play at any of the infield and outfield corners. If he stays healthy, his bat will earn him more playing time.
Baker is headed into the final year of a four-year, $2 million contract he signed as a fourth-rounder in 2002, after plummeting from first-round status because of his contract demands coupled with a poor history in wood bat leagues. Plagued by injuries, he never has played in more than 96 games in any of his three seasons as a pro. Problems with his left wrist limited him during his first two years, requiring three surgeries, and bad luck got the best of him in 2005. He started the year at third base as an emergency replacement for Garrett Atkins and would have returned to the big leagues when Clint Barmes went on the disabled list, but Baker was suffering from a deep bone bruise on his right thumb. A month later, he broke his left thumb when a batted ball struck him during batting practice. Clemson's all-time leader with 59 home run--breaking Matthew LeCroy's mark--Baker understands hitting and employs a solid approach. He stays back well on offspeed stuff and consistently drives the ball to the big part of the field. He doesn't have overwhelming raw power and isn't going to hit tape-measure shots, but he's a legitimate homer threat who smokes hard line drives. Strikeouts always have been a tradeoff for his power. He has played mostly third base, but he'll probably move to right field with Atkins in the big leagues and Ian Stewart coming up behind him. Baker has the speed and arm to handle the outfield and looked comfortable there during workouts last spring with big league coach Dave Collins. Baker likely will head back to Triple-A in 2006.
Baker set a Clemson career record with 59 homers, but a lackluster junior season and a poor history with wood bats caused him to drop to the fourth round in 2002. He has been held back by wrist problems since signing a $2 million big league contract with a $50,000 bonus, but he has hit 26 homers and 128 RBIs in 166 pro games. Baker has the tools to make an impact both at the plate and in the field. He has plus power to all fields and has improved his selectivity at the plate. He handles inside pitches well and stays back on breaking stuff. Defensively, he has soft hands and a solid arm. Both of Baker's two pro seasons have been marred by injuries to his left wrist. He had three surgeries, and then sprained it in a different area last August. He'll always strike out a lot, but has enough power to make his whiffs acceptable. He'll open 2005 in Double-A. Given Ian Stewart's rapid development, Baker will have to move to the outfield or perhaps second base in the future.
The start of Baker's pro career has been a struggle. After falling to the fourth round of the 2002 draft because of a lackluster junior season, a checkered history with wood bats and signability concerns, he signed that October. After landing a $2 million big league contract with a $50,000 bonus, Baker was set to make his debut last year. But ongoing problems with his left wrist have resulted in two surgeries since he signed (he had a third while at Clemson) and limited him to 70 games in 2003. Baker hits the ball hard and has big-time power, but he needs to do a better job of making contact. He has good hand-eye coordination and balance at the plate, but pitch selection is a challenge for him. His strength is in the middle of the field and he has the ability to turn on hanging breaking balls. Baker has legitimate third-base tools. He has nice hands, quick reflexes and a strong arm. He moves around well enough that he could wind up at second base, which could be needed with Ian Stewart coming behind him. Baker most likely will open 2004 in high Class A, but if he's healthy and plays as expected, he'll move quickly to Double-A.
Baker might have the highest ceiling of any college player in the 2002 draft, but a so-so junior season, his poor history with wood bats and rumors that he wanted at least $4 million to sign hurt his standing. The Rockies gambled a fourth-round pick and waited him out. He signed in October for a $2 million major league contract but received just $50,000 up front. Baker has a quick bat and huge power, which could make him a force in Coors Field. He already has learned patience at the plate after facing an abnormal amount of breaking and offspeed pitches in college. Originally a shortstop, he outgrew the position but has the soft hands and plus arm to play well at third base. Baker has some length and an uppercut in his swing, so he'll have to close the holes. He swings hard and will need to make concessions against better breaking balls at higher levels. After hitting .216 in two summers using wood bats with Team USA, he'll have to prove he can do damage without aluminum. Baker figures to make his pro debut in high Class A. The best hitting prospect drafted by the Rockies since Todd Helton, he'll move as quickly as his bat allows.

Minor League Top Prospects

Baker received a $2 million major league contract as a fourth-round pick in 2002, but ongoing wrist injuries limited him to just 70 games in his pro debut last year. He finally began to live up to expectations with Visalia before more wrist problems shut him down following a promotion to Double-A. When healthy, Baker is a prototypical power-hitting third baseman with plus power and on-base ability. He has a tendency to chase breaking pitches, leading to too many strikeouts. While he's a below-average runner, he's a good athlete and doesn't clog the bases. Defensively, Baker has soft hands and a solid arm along with average range. The fast rise of fellow third baseman Ian Stewart, Colorado's 2003 first-round pick, may force Baker to change positions in the near future.