Right-hander Luken Baker (Oak Ridge High, Conroe, Texas) pitched a scoreless third inning for the Americans, throwing 13 of 18 pitches for strikes and fanning catcher Wyatt Cross (Legacy High, Broomfield, Colo.) and Plummer on 93- and 91-mph fastballs. Baker also sparked the winning rally by hitting a first-pitch curveball for a pinch single in the eighth, but he’ll be best remembered for what he did before the game.
Baker won the home run derby, beating Starling Heredia (Santo Domingo, D.R.) 5-4 in the finals. Baker hit 12 homers in 26 swings, seven of which landed on Waveland Avenue behind the left-field stands and an eighth that struck the Toyota sign atop the bleachers in left-center.
Though scouts consider Baker a better prospect as a pitcher, it’s hard to ignore the strength in his 6-4, 245-pound frame. More than just a masher, he has some feel for hitting to go with his right-handed pop and has made a name for himself in home run derbies this summer. He won the junior event at the big league All-Star Game and reached the finals at the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park last Sunday.
Baker, who will be a two-way player if he attends Texas Christian rather than turning pro, hopes he doesn’t have to give up hitting anytime soon.
“I’m a pitcher, but getting to hit in this game is what I really wanted to do,” Baker said. “I like to do both and I’m going to try to do both as long as I can.”
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