Ron Rigney shares his top prospects and where they stand in their progression towards the Big Leagues in 2023! Follow Ron on Twitter – @RonRigney
Embed from Getty Images
Luken Baker, 1B/DH – STL
For some guys, the addition of the NL DH was a career saver. This week I’m going to profile a guy who’s the prototype for it. Baker is a former second rounder who is a bit of an older prospect at age 26. Because of his limitations on defense and his 70 grade raw power, you had to scroll a bit further down the Cardinals’ prospect list to find him. The 6’4” 280 pounder is a country strong power hitter that will be limited to 1B and DH because his glove trails his offense by a wide margin. Throughout his minor league career, Baker has posted a double-digit walk rate, with a strikeout rate that hovers in the 20-25% range which is solid for a power hitting first baseman.
He’s worth an add in deeper formats especially as he has seen time at DH since his call-up. In Triple-A Baker swatted 18 homers and drove in 53 runs with a .313/.434/.641 slash. The biggest concern is the only position he plays is already occupied by former NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt. Because of this he figures to split time with Nolan Gorman at DH for the time being so his AB’s will be a bit limited. This makes him an ideal bench bat to plug in when he does get the start. Baker would benefit greatly from a trade, but the season’s worth of Jordan Walker hype have buried him a bit, which is great for fantasy owners. If he’s out there add him, especially if you play in a dynasty format but he could be a helpful power bat for seasonal owners as well.
