Brad Baker

Bradley Donald Baker (born November 6, 1980 in Brattleboro, Vermont) is a fomer Minor League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. Baker threw a fastball which consistently hit 90 mph, an above-average curve, and average change.

After being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st Round of the 1999 Draft, Baker played for the Rookie League Gulf Coast Red Sox, where he recorded a 1-0 record, a 0.79 earned run average, and 10 strikeouts in 4 games.

Brad had a career year in by|2000 with the Augusta GreenJackets. His statistics included a 12-7 win-loss record, a 3.07 ERA, 126 strikeouts, and 55 walks in 27 games. The following year, Baker played for the Sarasota Red Sox and went 7-9 with a 4.7 ERA and 103 strikeouts. He also played for Sarasota in by|2002, going 7-1, with a 2.79 ERA and 65 strikeouts, before being traded to the San Diego Padres on June 26, by|2002 for Alan Embree. Baker finished the season with San Diego's AA affiliate, the Mobile BayBears.

Brad began the by|2003 season with the Class A Lake Elsinore Storm, compiling a 3-1 record, a 2.01 ERA, and 69 K before being called up back to AA Mobile. With the BayBears, he went a dismal 1-6 with a 5.68 ERA. He also recorded 53 strikeouts.

The next year, still playing with the BayBears, Brad fared much better, with a 2-1 record, a 1.57 ERA, and 68 strikeouts. Near the end of the season, he was recalled to the AAA Portland Beavers, where he played 4 games, recording a stellar 0.93 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched. He led San Diego's minor league organization in saves with 34 in by|2004.

Brad went 4-5 with a 4.75 ERA, 75 strikeouts, and 27 saves as the team's closer in by|2005. He had a good Spring Training, but he didn't make the major leagues.

The Braves signed Brad as a free agent on November 17, by|2005 to a one-year contract. On May 15, by|2006, he was traded back to the Boston Red Sox to complete a trade for reliever Franklin Nunez. Baker was 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA with the R-Braves. [http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855935035&c=MGArticle&cid=1137836075932&path=!sports!localpros]

In a local newspaper article in March 2008 Baker claimed that he was retiring from Professional Baseball. As of June 2008 he has yet to sign on with any team. [http://www.plotkindesigns.com/aceshsfolklore/baseball_bergeron_baker_retire.html]

External links

* [http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=434580 Brad Baker at MLB.com]
* [http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/393501 Brad Baker at CBS SportsLine.com]