Luken Baker Bio
Luken Grosvenor Baker (born March 10, 1997) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks. A former second-round draft pick, Baker worked his way through the minor leagues before reaching the majors in 2023. He won the International League Most Valuable Player Award that same season after a strong showing at the Triple-A level.
Baker was born in Conroe, Texas, and built a reputation as a power-hitting prospect during his high school and college years. Although injuries interrupted parts of his development, he emerged as a consistent run producer in the upper levels of the minor leagues and earned a place on a major league roster.
Early Life and Background
Luken Grosvenor Baker was born on March 10, 1997, in Conroe, Texas, where he grew up and attended Oak Ridge High School. He played alongside fellow future professional Durbin Feltman and quickly drew attention for his power at the plate. In July 2014, Baker won the Junior Home Run Derby held at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins. He followed that victory by winning the Home Run Derby at the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game, further cementing his status as one of the top amateur power hitters in his class.
As a senior at Oak Ridge, Baker was named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year, an award that recognizes the top high school player in each state. Entering the 2015 MLB Draft, he was widely viewed as a potential early-round selection. Rather than sign, Baker emailed major league teams to make clear that he intended to honor his college commitment.
Path to Professional Baseball
Baker committed to Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played college baseball for the TCU Horned Frogs. Although the Houston Astros selected him in the 37th round of the 2015 draft, he did not sign and enrolled at TCU instead. In his freshman season in 2016, he started all 67 games and was named the Big 12 Conference’s Freshman of the Year after batting .379 with 11 home runs and 62 runs batted in (RBIs).
As a sophomore in 2017, Baker played 47 games before a left arm injury suffered during a collision at first base ended his season. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors that year. Baker returned in 2018 for his junior season, but a fractured left fibula and torn ligament suffered during a slide cut his year short after 31 games.
Luken Baker Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
The St. Louis Cardinals selected Baker in the second round, with the 75th overall pick, of the 2018 MLB Draft and signed him for $800,000. He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Cardinals and batted .500 in eight games before being promoted to the Peoria Chiefs. Baker finished his first season in 37 games for Peoria, hitting .288 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
In 2019, Baker spent the season with the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Florida State League. After batting .346 with four home runs and a 1.067 on-base plus slugging (OPS) in August, he was named Florida State League Player of the Month. He finished the year slashing .244/.327/.390 with ten home runs and 53 RBIs across 122 games. Baker did not appear in any official game in 2020 after the minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Louis Cardinals Breakthrough (2021-2023)
Baker opened the 2021 season with the Springfield Cardinals but missed nearly all of August and early September while on the injured list. In 91 games for Springfield, he slashed .248/.322/.530 with 26 home runs and 68 RBIs, and he closed the year with a brief two-game appearance for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.
He returned to Memphis in 2022 and played 124 games, slashing .228/.289/.394 with 21 home runs and 66 RBIs. In 2023, Baker was once again assigned to Memphis, where in 54 games he batted .313/.434/.641 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs. That performance earned him his first major league call-up. On June 4, 2023, Baker was added to the Cardinals’ 40-man roster and promoted to the majors, where he started at designated hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He recorded his first MLB hit in his first at-bat, a single off Rich Hill, and finished his rookie campaign with a .209 batting average, two home runs, and 10 RBIs over 33 games. After the season, he was named International League Most Valuable Player.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025)
On August 4, 2025, Baker was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After just one game with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, he was designated for assignment on August 8. Baker cleared waivers and was sent outright to Oklahoma City on August 10. In 33 games with Oklahoma City, he batted .273 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs before electing free agency on November 6.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2026)
On December 26, 2025, Baker signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He opened the regular season with the Reno Aces of Triple-A and was promoted to the major leagues on April 7, 2026. In three appearances for Arizona, he went 1-for-5 (.200). On April 18, he was designated for assignment following Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s return from the injured list, then cleared waivers and was sent outright to Reno on April 20. Baker elected free agency the same day before re-signing with Arizona on a minor league deal on April 23.
Driving Style and Strengths
Baker is recognized primarily as a power-hitting first baseman with a patient approach at the plate, as reflected by his strong on-base numbers in the upper minors. His most productive stretch came at Triple-A Memphis in 2023, where he combined walk-rate discipline with above-average extra-base production, and his 2021 Springfield season showed similar middle-of-the-order upside.
Notable Events and Milestones
His MLB debut on June 4, 2023, against the Pittsburgh Pirates stands as a signature moment, with a first-pitch hit off veteran Rich Hill in his first at-bat. The 2023 International League MVP Award and his 26-homer season at Springfield in 2021 also mark clear benchmarks in his professional development.
Luken Baker Career Wins
Baker’s professional resume is built around consistent run production in the minor leagues rather than major league win totals, where opportunities have been limited. His most celebrated achievement was the 2023 International League Most Valuable Player Award following a dominant Triple-A campaign with Memphis.
Minor League Highlights
In 2021, Baker hit 26 home runs and drove in 68 runs for Springfield, his first true power breakout. The following year at Memphis, he added 21 home runs and 66 RBIs across 124 games. His 2023 MVP season featured 18 home runs and 53 RBIs in only 54 Triple-A games, underscoring his rate of production at the highest minor league level.
Other Wins and Performances
As an amateur, Baker won the 2014 Junior Home Run Derby at Target Field, the Under Armour All-America Home Run Derby, and the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year award as a senior at Oak Ridge High School. He was also named Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2016 after batting .379 for TCU.
Luken Baker Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Baker’s family background is limited, and specific details about his parents and siblings are not widely documented. He grew up in Conroe, Texas, and has kept much of his personal life private throughout his professional career.
Personal Life
Baker resides primarily in the United States and focuses much of his time on his professional baseball career. He has not publicly confirmed a spouse or children, and details about his relationships remain private.
2025 Season Performance
Baker’s 2025 season was split between Triple-A and the major leagues. With Memphis, he played 62 games and batted .235, while in 19 games for St. Louis he hit .196. His major league opportunities were limited, and on August 4 he was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After a brief stint in the Dodgers organization that included a short stay in the majors and a designation for assignment, Baker cleared waivers and was outrighted to Oklahoma City. He finished the year with the Comets, batting .273 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs in 33 games. He elected free agency on November 6, ending his Cardinals chapter after spending parts of three seasons in the St. Louis system.
