Darren Baker, son of Dusty Baker, spent 2025 entirely at Triple-A after a brief 2024 call-up. A speed-driven, contact-first profile yielded him as a potential leadoff engine in mix-and-match lineups. His release now opens the door for another organization to pursue a high-contact, speed-based contributor who can impact baserunning and defensive alignments from the top of the order.

Darren Baker, Dusty’s son, debuted in nine games last season with a .500 average and spent most of the year at Rochester, where he hit .260/.348/.325 with 1 HR and 22 RBI in 98 games. With the Nationals' depth chart, he’s behind Luis Garcia Jr. at second base; DFA creates a tight window to trade or reassign, while the option-down path remains open if he remains in DC’s system.

Darren Baker is set to bat second and play second base for the Washington Nationals in their matchup against the Chicago Cubs. As the team wraps up the season, he will be looking to contribute offensively and build on his performance as they seek to end their losing streak.

Darren Baker will be batting eighth and playing second base for the Nationals. As part of the team's lineup, he will look to contribute offensively against the Cubs and take advantage of the matchup.

Darren Baker made his Major League debut on September 1 and is one of only two players on the Nationals' roster who has not yet stolen a base this season. As a rookie, he represents the team's youth and potential, contributing to a season where aggressive base stealing has become a hallmark of Washington's strategy.