Drafted in the 12th round (368th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2017 (signed for $125,000).
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Baca was a standout Georgia prep who was drafted in the 32nd round by the Braves out of high school. He pitched out of Arizona State's bullpen for two seasons before transferring to St. Katherine's, a tiny NAIA school north of San Diego. Baca entices as a 6-foot-4 lefthander with a fastball up to 94 mph and a sharp slider. His command and control come and go and he walked as many as he struck out as a junior, although his latter part of the year was better than the beginning. Baca has a seventh-inning relief profile if he can ever harness his stuff.
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The 6-foot-2, 177-pound Baca has a great pitcher's body with room for projection. He made a big velocity jump last fall, sitting in the low 90s, but has had an uneven spring. Early on he was 90-92 mph before pitching at 87-90 later in the season, touching 91. Baca is similar to Chris Sale with his low three-quarters delivery from the left side. His delivery has been inconsistent this spring and he was not consistently generating plus angle and life as he did last summer, when he was a heavy ground-ball pitcher. His offspeed stuff has also suffered. His breaking ball flashed above-average last summer but not this spring. His changeup shows good tumble when it's right. He has the potential for at least average control, but walked more than five per nine this spring. Baca is committed to Arizona State, the school his father attended.
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