John Baker | |
---|---|
Catcher | |
Born: Alameda, California, U.S. | January 20, 1981|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 9, 2008, for the Florida Marlins | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 28, 2014, for the Chicago Cubs | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .247 |
Home runs | 14 |
Runs batted in | 120 |
Teams | |
John David Baker (born January 20,1981) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played for the Florida Marlins,San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). In December 2015,Baker was hired as a Baseball Operations Assistant by the Chicago Cubs [1]
Born in Alameda,California [2] and raised in Walnut Creek,Baker graduated from De La Salle High School (Concord,California) in 1999 before attending the University of California,Berkeley. [3] [4] In 2000 and 2001,he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox,where he received the league's 10th Player award in 2000 and was named a league all-star in 2001. [5] [6] [7] [8] As a junior in 2002,he led the Pac-10 Conference with a .383 batting average and was selected to the All-Pac-10 team. [9]
Baker was drafted in 2002 by the Oakland Athletics in the 4th round of the amateur draft. He was mentioned several times in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball . In March 2007,Baker was traded to the Florida Marlins for minor league first-baseman Jason Stokes. [10]
Baker was called up to the majors on July 9,2008,after Matt Treanor went on the disabled list. His first major league hit was a solo home run off Chan Ho Park of the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 10. In 2009 to 2010 Baker platooned with teammate Ronny Paulino;Baker played against right-handed pitchers while Paulino played against left-handed pitchers.
Baker went on the disabled list in May 2010 with a strained flexor tendon in his right arm. At the end of the 2010 season,he had Tommy John surgery when the elbow did not improve. [11] He spent most of 2011 rehabbing and rejoined the Marlins that September,serving primarily as a pinch hitter.
On November 22,2011,Baker was traded to the San Diego Padres for Wade LeBlanc. [12] [13] Baker served as backup to Nick Hundley and Yasmani Grandal in 2012,starting 52 games and batting .238 while throwing out 16% of base runners. In 2013,he began the year as the backup to Hundley. He started 12 games for the Padres in April and May,and then was optioned to the Triple-A Tucson Padres when Grandal returned from his 50-game suspension. [14] He was designated for assignment on June 10,2013. [15]
On June 15,2013,Baker was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers he was then optioned to AAA Albuquerque. [16] He was outrighted off the 40 man roster on August 5. In 40 games with the Isotopes,he hit .203. He became a free agent on October 1. [17]
On December 13,2013,Baker signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training with the Chicago Cubs. Baker won the backup catcher job out of spring training when George Kottaras was released. [18] On July 29,2014,Baker pitched a scoreless top of the 16th inning with a popout and double play,as the Cubs had exhausted their bullpen in a game against the Colorado Rockies. In the bottom half of the inning,he walked from a full count,then reached third with the bases loaded and one out. He scored the winning run on a lineout by Starlin Castro,earning him the win in the longest game,by time,in Cubs history. [19] Baker became the fourth position player to earn a win since 1968,and first since Chris Davis did so in 2012. [20] John is the only Cubs position player to ever be credited with a pitching win in the history of the franchise.
On January 29,2015,Baker signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners. [21] [22] He was released on May 20,2015.
Baker joined the Chicago Cubs in 2015 as a special assistant with the baseball operations department. In his time with the Cubs,he spent time as the mental skills coordinator and head applied mental skills coach. On November 10,2020,it was announced that the Pittsburgh Pirates had hired Baker as the director of coaching and player development.
During the offseason,Baker has taught Physical Education at St. Isidore School in Danville,California,where his wife,Meghan,used to teach.
Baker enjoys broadcasting. He had a stint as a co-host with Rick Tittle on the Sports Byline USA radio network.
Baker is a philanthropist who was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award. He visited the troops in the Middle East and helped victims of the earthquake in Haiti. [23]
After leaving Berkeley to begin his baseball career,Baker chose to not finish his degree at Berkeley,ultimately completing an online Bachelor's through Arizona State.
Mark William Prior is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. A onetime top prospect of the Chicago Cubs,he pitched for the team from 2002 to 2006 in a career that was marred by injuries. In his prime,his repertoire of pitches included a mid-90s mph fastball,a curveball,and a changeup. He is currently the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
David Wade Ross is an American former professional baseball catcher and manager. He managed the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2020 to 2023. He played in MLB for 15 seasons.
David Andrew Hansen is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player,specializing as a pinch hitter. He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Chicago Cubs,San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers. He also was a coach in MLB for the Dodgers,Mariners,Los Angeles Angels.
Cameron Keith Maybin is an American professional baseball broadcaster and former center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers,Florida / Miami Marlins,San Diego Padres,Atlanta Braves,Los Angeles Angels,Houston Astros,Seattle Mariners,New York Yankees,Chicago Cubs,and New York Mets. He was the tenth overall pick in the 2005 MLB draft by the Tigers and debuted with them in 2007. With the Astros,he won the 2017 World Series.
Miguel Angel Montero Fernandez is a Venezuelan-American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,Chicago Cubs,Toronto Blue Jays,and Washington Nationals. Montero is a two-time MLB All-Star.
Carlos Agustín Mármol is a Dominican former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Dodgers,and the Miami Marlins. Carlos owns Recta 49,a successful restaurant/car wash in the Dominican Republic.
RenéRivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Minnesota Twins,San Diego Padres,Tampa Bay Rays,New York Mets,Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Angels,Atlanta Braves,Cleveland Indians,and Washington Nationals.
Below are lists of Rule 5 draft results since 1997. Players selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) phase of the Rule 5 draft must be kept on their new team's active roster for the entire following MLB season,or they are placed on waivers and offered back to their original team if not claimed. Players chosen in the Minor League Baseball phase(s) of the Rule 5 draft remain with their new organization without restrictions.
Edinson Vólquez is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Cincinnati Reds,San Diego Padres,Los Angeles Dodgers,Pittsburgh Pirates,Kansas City Royals and Miami Marlins.
Andrew James Ellis,is an American former professional baseball catcher who is currently a Special Assistant to the General Manager in the front office of the San Diego Padres. Ellis played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Philadelphia Phillies,Miami Marlins,and the Padres,before retiring,following the 2018 season.
Vincent Antonio Rottino is an American former professional baseball utility player and current television analyst for Bally Sports Wisconsin covering the Milwaukee Brewers. He has played positions including catcher,first base,third base,and the outfield.
William Dion Venable is an American professional baseball coach and former player. He is the associate manager of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB as an outfielder for the San Diego Padres,Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers,and he was a coach for the Chicago Cubs. He is the son of former MLB outfielder Max Venable and is the older brother of former National Football League player Winston Venable.
Yasmani Grandal is a Cuban-American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres,Los Angeles Dodgers,Milwaukee Brewers,and Chicago White Sox. Grandal is a two-time MLB All-Star.
David Christopher Hatcher is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida/Miami Marlins,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Oakland Athletics.
Timothy Joseph Federowicz(born August 5,1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Chicago Cubs,San Francisco Giants,Houston Astros,Cincinnati Reds,and Texas Rangers. He currently serves as the manager for the Toledo Mud Hens.
Christian Gabriel Bethancourt Ruiz is a Panamanian professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves,San Diego Padres,Oakland Athletics,Tampa Bay Rays,and Miami Marlins,and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos. Bethancourt was signed by the Braves as an international free agent in 2008 and made his major league debut for them in 2013.
Román AlíSolís López is a Mexican professional baseball catcher for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League and Tomateros de Culiacán of the Mexican Pacific League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres in 2012 and Tampa Bay Rays in 2014.
The 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 126th for the franchise in Major League Baseball,and their 58th season in Los Angeles. The team underwent a change of direction this season as general manager Ned Colletti was fired and replaced by Farhan Zaidi and new president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
Austin Scott Barnes is an American professional baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Barnes was selected by the Florida Marlins in the eighth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2015 and helped the team win the 2020 World Series. He has also played for the Mexico national baseball team.
Anthony John Wolters is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies,Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.