Inside The Cardinals

Ex-Cardinals Slugger Signs With D-Backs After Popping 144 MiLB Homers

The former St. Louis Cardinals prospect is joining the Arizona Diamondbacks...
Patrick McAvoy|
Jun 7, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; A general view of an Arizona Diamondbacks hat and Rawlings glove in the dugout during the fifth inning of the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images
Jun 7, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; A general view of an Arizona Diamondbacks hat and Rawlings glove in the dugout during the fifth inning of the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images | Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsLos Angeles DodgersArizona Diamondbacks

A former St. Louis Cardinals slugger is sticking around in the National League.

It has been a roller coaster of a year for former Cardinals second-round pick Luken Baker. He began the 2025 season with the Cardinals organization, like he had done every other year of his professional career to that point. He was selected in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft and worked his way through the minors and made his big league debut back in 2023.

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He showed prolific power down in the minors, including three different seasons with 26 or more homers. But there wasn't a path forward in the big leagues for him. Paul Goldschmidt was the first baseman in St. Louis for years and then Willson Contreras took over the job in 2025. He appeared in 19 games in the big leagues for St. Louis in 2025 but spent most of the season down in the minors. Eventually, the Cardinals moved on and the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed him off waivers. He appeared in 33 games in the Dodgers' system and became a free agent. Now, he's sticking around in the NL West with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Just Baseball's Aram Leighton.

The former Cardinals slugger found a new home

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Luken Baker
Apr 1, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Luken Baker (26) hits a two run double against the Los Angeles Angels during the tenth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

"The Diamondbacks and 1B Luken Baker have agreed to a Minor League deal," Leighton wrote on X. "Baker, 29 in March, owns a .655 OPS in 72 MLB games, but was one of the most productive bats in the minors in 2023 and 2024, launching a combined 65 homers."

Overall, Baker has launched 144 homers in seven minor league seasons. Those power numbers are worth looking into for a club.

Unfortunately, things didn't work out in St. Louis. The Cardinals have had log jams all over the place and there was never a clear pathway for him with the organization, despite the massive power numbers down in the minors. Even with Contreras now gone, there wouldn't have even been a big pathway in 2026 either. Alec Burleson figures to be the team's starting first baseman now. Baker was great in Triple-A. Hopefully, he gets an opportunity over in Arizona.

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Patrick McAvoy
PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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