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Sep 19, 2006

Baker Becomes Wheaton's Second MLB Signee, Set to Join San Diego Padres

Courtesy Wheaton College

NORTON, MA- Righthanded pitcher Jamie Baker (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional), a 2006 Wheaton College graduate and four-year member of the Lyons' baseball team, became the program's second player to sign on with a Major League Baseball franchise. After his first year of professional baseball with the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball's Nashua Pride, Baker was recently signed by the National League's San Diego Padres.

Baker joins 2002 MLB draftee Chris Denorfia '02 as the only Wheaton players to sign with an MLB team in the program's nine-year varsity existence. Denorfia is currently playing as an outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds. Baker is fresh off an outstanding season with Nashua, where he compiled a 3-1 record with a 1.82 earned run average as a reliever. He struck out 31 batters in 34.2 innings, picked up a pair of saves, and limited opposing hitters to a .179 batting average.

Moved into the bullpen for his senior season at Wheaton, Baker turned out to be one of the top Division III closers in the country, leading the Lyons to the NCAA Tournament championship game with a win and a save in Wisconsin. Named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) all-region and New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) all-conference second teams, Baker was also selected to play in the NEIBA All-Star game at Fenway Park.

During the spring, Baker went 4-0 for the Lyons with a 1.80 earned run average. He fanned 32 batters in 25 innings while holding opponents to a .163 batting average. Appearing in 24 of Wheaton's 52 games, Baker yielded just six walks and four extra-base hits in his closing role. Baker contributed to the Lyons' most successful season, which included a program-high 42 wins, a first regional championship, an eighth straight NEWMAC regular season title and a seventh conference tournament crown.

Baker finished his Wheaton career with a 10-1 record and 10 saves, which stands tied for second in the program's annals, in 44 appearances. He was a member of three NCAA Tournament teams and a trio of NEWMAC Tournament championships, leading the Lyons to an overall record of 123-52-3 (.699) and conference regular season mark of 40-8 (.833) during his career.

Baker will report to the Padres' minor league spring training camp in 2007, where he will be assigned to one of the organization's affiliate teams. San Diego has six minor league affiliates, including Triple-A Portland in Oregon and Double-A Mobile in Alabama. The organization also has three Class A teams in Lake Elsinore, California; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Eugene, Oregon; as well as its Rookie club located in Peoria, Arizona.