Luken Baker Bio
Luken Grosvenor Baker (born March 10, 1997) is an American professional baseball first baseman. He is a free agent after most recently playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals. Baker is recognized for his power-hitting profile developed through a well-traveled minor-league path that included standout performances at every level of the Cardinals system.
Born and raised in Texas, Baker emerged as one of the top amateur power hitters of his class before committing to college baseball at Texas Christian University. Following his junior season he was selected in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cardinals, the organization where he would spend the bulk of his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Baker was born on March 10, 1997, in Conroe, Texas. He attended Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, where he played alongside future major leaguer Durbin Feltman. As a high school player, Baker gained national attention during the summer showcase circuit. In July 2014, he won the Junior Home Run Derby held at Target Field in Minnesota, establishing himself as a premier amateur power hitter.
He later added the Home Run Derby title at the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game to his résumé. As a senior at Oak Ridge, Baker was named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year, one of the most prestigious individual awards in United States high school baseball. His combination of size, strength, and raw power made him a projected early-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Although considered an early-round prospect for the 2015 MLB Draft, Baker emailed major league teams to inform them that he would not sign. He chose instead to attend Texas Christian University to play college baseball for the TCU Horned Frogs. The Houston Astros still selected him in the 37th round of that draft, but he did not sign, enrolling at TCU to further develop his game.
In 2016, his freshman season at TCU, Baker 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 RBIs. His sophomore year in 2017 was cut short by a left arm injury suffered in a collision at first base, limiting him to 47 games, but he still batted .317 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs, earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors. He returned for his junior season in 2018, but a fractured left fibula and torn ligament ended that campaign after 31 games.
Luken Baker Career
Minor League Development (2018–2022)
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. He finished that first season hitting .288 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 37 games for Peoria.
Baker spent 2019 with the Palm Beach Cardinals and earned Florida State League Player of the Month honors in August after hitting .346 with four home runs and a 1.067 OPS. He finished the year slashing .244/.327/.390 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs across 122 games. He did not appear in a game in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Louis Cardinals Breakthrough (2023–2025)
Baker opened 2021 with the Springfield Cardinals and posted a .248/.322/.530 slash line with 26 home runs and 68 RBIs over 91 games before a late-season promotion to the Memphis Redbirds. He returned to Memphis for 2022, hitting 21 home runs with 66 RBIs in 124 games. Assigned again to Memphis to begin 2023, he batted .313/.434/.641 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs in 54 games, forcing the Cardinals to promote him.
On June 4, 2023, Baker was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He was slotted into the starting lineup as the designated hitter, batting seventh against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He collected two hits in four at-bats in his debut, with his first MLB hit coming in his first at-bat off pitcher Rich Hill. In 33 games during his rookie year, he hit .209/.313/.314 with two home runs and 10 RBI. After the season, he won the International League Most Valuable Player Award.
Baker spent most of 2024 with Memphis, hitting .231 in 109 games with 32 home runs and 79 RBI, and appeared in 21 major league games, batting .175 with two homers and 10 RBI. In 2025, he played 62 games for Memphis and 19 for St. Louis, posting a .235 average in the minors and a .196 average in the majors. On August 4, 2025, he was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After one game with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, he was designated for assignment on August 8, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Oklahoma City on August 10. In 33 games there, he batted .273 with eight home runs and 22 RBI. Baker elected free agency on November 6, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Baker is recognized for his right-handed power profile, consistently producing extra-base hits and home runs throughout the minor leagues. His plate discipline improved markedly at Memphis in 2023, when his .434 on-base percentage and .641 slugging percentage highlighted both his walk rate and his ability to drive the ball. Defensively, he profiles as a first baseman whose offensive value depends on his capacity to deliver consistent run production.
Notable Events and Milestones
Baker’s first major league hit, a single off Rich Hill in his first career at-bat on June 4, 2023, marked the realization of a long minor-league journey. His 2023 International League Most Valuable Player Award stands as the most significant individual honor of his professional career. The late-season waiver claim by the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2025 added a brief chapter to his resume before his election of free agency.
Luken Baker Career Wins and Honors
Although Baker’s major league career has been limited in at-bats, his minor-league resume includes consistent home run production and individual recognition at multiple levels. His most prominent honor is the 2023 International League Most Valuable Player Award, awarded after a dominant first half at Triple-A Memphis.
Minor League Highlights
Baker captured Florida State League Player of the Month honors in August 2019 with the Palm Beach Cardinals. In 2021, he slugged 26 home runs for Springfield before earning his first Triple-A call-up. His 32 home runs for Memphis in 2024 further cemented his reputation as a power-hitting first baseman within the Cardinals organization. Across his professional career, he reached double-digit home run totals in every full minor-league season he completed.
Other Recognitions
At the amateur level, Baker was named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year as a senior at Oak Ridge High School, won the Junior Home Run Derby at Target Field in 2014, and earned Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2016 at TCU. He was also selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team following his 2017 sophomore season.
Luken Baker Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public details about Baker’s family and personal life are limited. He was raised in Conroe, Texas, where he attended Oak Ridge High School and developed into a top amateur baseball prospect. Specific information about his parents, marital status, or children has not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Baker’s 2025 season was split across multiple organizations. He began the year with the Memphis Redbirds of Triple-A, where he played 62 games and batted .235. In the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, he appeared in 19 games and hit .196 before being designated for assignment. His most consistent offensive stretch came late in the year with the Oklahoma City Comets, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he batted .273 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in 33 games.
The midseason waiver claim by the Dodgers briefly gave Baker a new opportunity, though his time in the organization lasted only days at the major league level. After clearing waivers and returning to Oklahoma City, he produced enough offensively to position himself for free agency. On November 6, 2025, Baker elected free agency, leaving the door open for a new organization to sign him entering the next chapter of his career.