Every year, or at least every year since 2012, we’ve taken some time after the season was over to look at the past 162 games through the lens of the players that played them (and the management that was in charge of them). Last year, the Exit Interview series spent less time digging into splits and finding numerical oddities and more time reflecting on the player and their season. It was a style that seemed to work so we’re going to bring it back again this year. The legendary cardinalsgifs is back to bring us excellent series art, so it’s all downhill after you see that!
Player: Luken Baker
Stats: 21 G, 49 PA, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB, .175/.286/.400, -0.2 bWAR
Statcast: 6.5% barrel, 32.3% sweet spot, 109.3 max exit velocity, .294 wOBA, .282 xwOBA, 22.4 K%, 14.3 BB%
Grade: C
Luken Baker is the most prolific home run hitter in Memphis Redbirds history. He broke the record back in June and added 11 more before the season was done. Unfortunately, that might have been the highlight of his time in Memphis this season. The overall game that we saw in 2023, which got him his first cup of coffee, evaporated this season. His batting average dropped 100 points, he had 34 more strikeouts in 62 more at bats, and his OPS fell almost .280 points (though still wasn’t bad at .880). He even hit one less homer than last year with that many more attempts. It’s not surprising that he slipped from some really lofty heights but I think folks would feel better about him long-term if he’d at least approximated his past season.
It’s also worth noting that he’ll turn 28 before next season gets underway. How much of his success has been because he’s been older than the league? Is he another Nick Stavinoha or Moises Gomez? There are late bloomers, of course, and the Cardinals have had their share, but it’s also just as fair to wonder if he’s a Quad-A player. It’s a little surprising that he didn’t get more of a run this September, with the Cardinals out of it and the decision (seemingly) to move on from Paul Goldschmidt already made. That probably indicates what the club thinks about him and with players like Alec Burleson eyeing first base, it’s going to be hard for him to have much impact on the team going forward.
What’s in store for 2025: Baker still has an option left so it wouldn’t be surprising if he gets a chance to put that Memphis home run record over 100 and likely out of reach. He might get some time at first in the spring but it’s hard to imagine he’d go north with the team.
