Luken Baker

Baker was one of the most productive hitters at the Triple-A level in 2023, putting up a blistering .334/.439/.720 batting line with 33 home runs and 98 RBI over just 380 plate appearances with Memphis. He also cut his strikeout rate to 20 percent while upping his walk rate to 15.5 percent. The breakout led to Baker's first big-league action in St. Louis, where he played sporadically and posted just a .627 OPS and 31.3 percent strikeout rate in 99 trips to the dish. Baker did draw walks at a 13.1 percent clip and boasted a 52.7 percent hard-hit rate, so there were some positives. The 27-year-old is a big boy at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds and offers an interesting blend of power and on-base ability. The problem is Baker is stretched defensively even at first base and the Cards look to have at least a few ahead of him in the pecking order at designated hitter. Read Past Outlooks