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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 01: Darren Baker #10 of the Washington Nationals makes his major league debut with a single in his first at bat during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on September 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
It never hurts to add additional depth at multiple positions in one move. It is especially helpful when that depth just so happens to carry a strong baseball pedigree, which almost always translates to some promise on the diamond.
Darren Baker hasn’t seen that promise translate into success on the field yet, but the son of legendary manager Dusty Baker still brings intrigue to the table. The Chicago White Sox have signed the 27-year-old infielder to a minor league contract, according to MiLB.com’s transactions tracker.
Baker did not receive an invitation to MLB spring training camp. He’ll likely head to Triple-A Charlotte to begin the season to serve as depth.
Dusty Baker left an impact on the sport, both on the field as a player and in the dugout as a manager.
Baker had a 19-year career as an outfielder, hitting .278/.347/.432 (116 OPS+) with 320 doubles, 242 home runs, and 1,013 RBI. He went to two All-Star Games, won a pair of Silver Sluggers, took home a Gold Glove Award, and was a part of the Dodgers‘ 1981 World Series-winning team.
Baker had even more success as a manager, winning three Manager of the Year Awards while leading teams in both leagues to a World Series (winning once, in 2022 with Houston). Overall, Baker’s teams were 2183-1862 (a .540 winning percentage) over 26 seasons.
Darren Baker has been well-known in the baseball world since he was just five years old. Serving as a batboy for his father’s Giants, Baker was famously pulled out of the way by a run-scoring J.T. Snow to keep the toddler from being run over on the field of play.
Years later, the Washington Nationals selected Baker in the 10th round of the 2021 Draft out of UC Berkley. Baker has spent the last five seasons in the Nationals’ organization, hitting a collective .280/.347/.347 while stealing 102 bases (in 453 games). He spent the entire 2025 season at Triple-A Rochester.
Baker’s only MLB experience came in 2024, a nine-game stint in which he was 7-for-14 with two doubles.
Even coming off a season in which they finished 60-102, there aren’t many spots in the infield up for grabs as the White Sox head into spring training games later this week. Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas are all projected to receive most of the playing time across the infield (from right to left), but none should be viewed as locks for the position long-term.
That said, none of them are on short leashes with their playing time, either. Another player is going to need to step up and earn a chance to unseat one of the four — or the out-of-options Lenyn Sosa and Luisangel Acuña for bench roles — heading into the season.
Curtis Mead (also out of options) and Tanner Murray are also on the White Sox’s 40-man roster. Jacob Gonzalez is also in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Baker, whose time in the majors came at second base and both corner outfield positions, will add further depth to that group.
Aaron Somers Aaron Somers has been writing about baseball on a global scale since the early 2000's. His content has appeared at several outlets over those years, with most of his recent words coming at his To Be Named Later newsletter. More about Aaron Somers
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