Dylan Baker
| IP | 345 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.2 |
| WHIP | 1.406 |
| BB/9 | 3.757 |
| SO/9 | 7.383 |
- Full name Dylan Ford Baker
- Born 04/06/1992 in Roseburg, OR
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Western Nevada CC
-
Drafted in the 5th round (173rd overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2012 (signed for $200,000).
View Draft Report
Baker has taken an uncharted path as a prospect. He went to Douglas High in Juneau, Alaska, before pitching at Tacoma (Wash.) CC last year and then winding up at Western Nevada this year. Baker has a good pitcher's frame at 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds and has put up fantastic numbers as the ace for the Wildcats, though scouts see him in the bullpen. His fastball sits in the 90-95 mph range, and his breaking ball shows flashes of being a plus pitch, though scouts would like for it to be more of a true slider. He mixes in an occasional changeup but is more of a two-pitch guy, which limits his role. Scouts don't love his delivery because he doesn't stay in line to the plate and shows effort, which limits his command and would seem to further suggest a future in the bullpen.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Baker grew up in Juneau, Alaska, and he became the second-highest drafted Alaskan when Cleveland took him in the fifth round in 2012. He impressed in his first full season in 2013, but a broken ankle in 2014 and Tommy John surgery in 2015 have limited him to 74 innings (including the Arizona Fall League) over the past two years. When he's healthy, Baker has some of the best stuff in the system. His fastball can reach the upper 90s, but more typically sits about 92-95 mph. His slider is his best secondary offering, and it has a chance to give him a second plus pitch. Early in Baker's career, he was known primarily as a fastball/slider pitcher, but his changeup made strides in 2013, and it could eventually give him a third quality offering. There's some effort to his delivery, and he'll need to smooth it out to refine his command. Even before Baker's injuries, some scouts believed he was better suited for a role in the bullpen. But the Indians remain hopeful he can make it as a starter. Once he's ready to get back on the mound in 2016, he faces a likely return to high Class A Lynchburg. -
A graduate of Douglas High in Juneau, Alaska, Baker pitched at Tacoma (Wash.) CC in 2011 before transferring to Western Nevada JC. Baker pitched the Wildcats to the Junior College World Series, topping national juco players in strikeouts per nine innings (13.4). He became the highest-drafted player in school history and the second highest-drafted Alaska native ever (behind Braves 2000 fourth-rounder Brian Montalbo), signing with the Indians for $200,000 as a fifth-rounder. Baker has a strong, physical frame and a fastball that usually ranges from 90-95 mph and gets up to 97. He throws a hard slider that has a shorter, cutter-type break rather than true two-plane depth. He'll mix in a true curveball that peaks in the low 80s and an occasional changeup, but he's mainly a fastball/slider guy. He doesn't always stay on line to the plate and has some effort in his delivery, contributing factors in his struggles to throw strikes at times. Some scouts think he's best suited for a late-inning relief role, but the Indians want to see how he develops as a starter. He'll open his first full pro season in low Class A.
Draft Prospects
-
Baker has taken an uncharted path as a prospect. He went to Douglas High in Juneau, Alaska, before pitching at Tacoma (Wash.) CC last year and then winding up at Western Nevada this year. Baker has a good pitcher's frame at 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds and has put up fantastic numbers as the ace for the Wildcats, though scouts see him in the bullpen. His fastball sits in the 90-95 mph range, and his breaking ball shows flashes of being a plus pitch, though scouts would like for it to be more of a true slider. He mixes in an occasional changeup but is more of a two-pitch guy, which limits his role. Scouts don't love his delivery because he doesn't stay in line to the plate and shows effort, which limits his command and would seem to further suggest a future in the bullpen.
