Luken Baker

[KevinJ14]

So I was just browsing through the top 50 list for the 2015 Draft, and I stumbled upon this guy...

 

A RHP/OF with POWER.

Luken Baker

Rank: 38

Spring (Texas), Senior

Height: 6'4", Weight: 245

Position: RHP/OF | Bats: R, Throws: R

DOB: 3/10/1997

Commitment: TCU

Twitter: @lukenb9

 

 

Scouting Report:

 

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 70 | Run: 30 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

 

Baker is the top two-way player available in the 2015 Draft. Scouts viewed him strictly as a pitcher before he began displaying his prodigious power at major summer events, winning the Junior Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game and another home run competition before the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field. Team USA deployed him mainly as a first baseman while winning a gold medal at the 18-and-under Pan American Championship in Mexico in September.

Extremely physical at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Baker generates well above-average right-handed power with strength and bat speed. More than just a grip-it-and-rip-it slugger, he has some feel for hitting too. He has the arm strength for right field but his well below-average speed makes him best suited for first base.

For all his power, the Texas Christian recruit may be more talented on the mound. His size and strength also translate into 90-95 mph fastballs on a downhill plane. His low-80s slider is a solid second pitch, and he also shows some aptitude for throwing a changeup and filling the strike zone.

 

Here's a video of him winning the HR Derby and becoming friends with Trout:

 

 

Fun fact: Trout follows him on Twitter.

 

He is also currently ranked as 38th in the Top 50 Draft

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2015/#list=draft

 

Think we should try to get him? Or maybe hope for Chris Betts?

 

 

[AngelsLakersFan]

Pass. Let an NL team draft him as a pitcher.

[ScottT]

That'd be a waste of a pick. Terrible.

[Broad Street]

That'd be a waste of a pick. Terrible.

Why is that?

[Stradling]

I thought he was sleeping with the fishes

[Angel Oracle]

Why would it be a waste of a 1st round pick at #30?

Is it simply because of what's happened with Cowart?

 

He has solid grades in every hitting, defense, and pitching category, except for running.

 

Much better him at #30 than drafting Chevy Clarke in a similar spot in 2010, at least Baker has excellent tools aside from running.

Edited January 22, 2015 by Angel Oracle

[AngelsLakersFan]

I'm not a fan of so called 'two-way' players because when they get to the big leagues they will be either one or the other. Once drafted they will be made to choose one. Either his hitting skills are irrelevant or his pitching skills are. 

 

As a hitter I'm not a fan of drafting guys that profile as a first basemen out of high school. There is no defensive upside here. I wouldn't be totally against drafting a no glove hitter if they were more high on him as an actual hitter.

 

He strikes me as a great all around baseball player, but I would think the deck is stacked against him in terms of a major league career. Maybe I'd be fine with it in the second round, if he gets amazing scores for his 'makeup.'

 

Save this post and see how wrong I was in six years. :-)

[Angel Oracle]

Admittedly, playing him at 1B with a 60 grade arm would seem to be a waste of a good arm in the field.

He couldn't play RF as long as good speed exists in LF and CF (thus, less space to cover)? 

[Broad Street]

3rd base?

[Angel Oracle]

He lives on the second floor.

[ELEVEN]

He lives on the second floor.

Dude, dont put a brain tumor into my head.

[Docwaukee]

I think it's abundantly clear from the previous draft threads that we bat less than a buck in accurately predicting which players are going to succeed.  

 

So, since a lot of people are saying not to pick him, I say pick him. 

[KevinJ14]

Right handed Adam Dunn?.....Trumbo?....

He hits for contact too.

[KevinJ14]

I think we forget that he is only 17.  Room to grow/improve.  Imagine his Hit and Power grades being a 55,75 respectively in the future?