The memory of Darren Baker was forever etched in the minds of San Francisco Giants fans during Game 5 of the 2002 World Series, when JT Snow averted a potentially disastrous situation at home plate by scooping up the three-year old batboy who ran on to the field prematurely.
The son of former Giants manager Dusty Baker has grown up, and become a pretty good baseball player in his own right, signing a letter of intent on Friday to join the University of California baseball team next season.
Baker posted a picture of he and his father on Instagram signing his letter of intent with the caption ‘Dreams do come true.’ Cal welcomed the newest member of their team with a congratulatory tweet.
Another future Golden Bear is @DarrenBaker_12! Welcome to the #CalFamily #GoBears pic.twitter.com/LPiKGBnhf6
— Cal Baseball (@Cal_Baseball) November 11, 2016
Baker is currently a senior at Jesuit High School in the Sacramento suburb of Carmichael, the same school that also produced former Giants catcher Andrew Susac. Baker is a left-handed hitting second baseman known for his speed, running a 6.63 60-yard dash and stealing 16 bases in 19 attempts in his junior year according to Perfect Game.
The 17-year-old hit .386/.448/.435 with 39 hits and 30 runs scored for the Marauders last season.
His father, Dusty, managed the Giants from 1993-2002, taking the team to the World Series in his final season.