Dusty Baker and his son, Darren, at batting cages near Sacramento this winter. (Photo by John McDonnell / The Washington Post) KANSAS CITY — Once the school year ends, Dusty Baker’s 17-year-old son, Darren, will join his dad in D.C. Darren, best remembered as the little bat boy whom J.T. Snow picked up and carried away from home plate in the midst of a play during the 2002 World Series, loves baseball.
He is a junior infielder at Jesuit High in Carmichael, Calif., near the Bakers’ home in Granite Bay, and is committed to play at the University of California, Berkeley.
But Baker’s wife, Melissa, had an idea for her son’s summer in D.C.. So Darren will serve as an intern at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Southeast D.C.
The facility hosts elementary school students from Wards 7 and 8 for academic and baseball programs during the school year and summer. Darren’s high school has a community service requirement which he will fulfill by volunteering at the facility.
“I believe in work and I believe in giving back to the community because he’s been pretty blessed,” Baker said. “It’s like, hey man, this is how we raised him. Also, he’ll play in a league around D.C., which, again, my wife arranged.”
>>> A few Nationals players — Bryce Harper, Jose Lobaton, Shawn Kelley, Gio Gonzalez — and a few coaches joined Baker for a tour of the Negro League Museum in Kansas City on Tuesday morning.
Harper was presented with the Josh Gibson and Oscar Charleston Legacy awards by museum president Bob Kendrick.
“I’ve been there before,” Baker said. “So I try to go there at least once while I’m in town. I haven’t been there in like four, five, six years. Bob Kendrick is real good friends with [Nationals assistant hitting coach] Jacque [Jones] and when Jacque was with the Twins, he and some of the other guys like LaTroy Hawkins and Torii Hunter would go.
“I just tried to put the group together that would go of guys that were curious about going and let history teach them what happened in the past and some of the background in baseball. There’s always something new that you learn even though I’ve been there quite a few times.”
>>> Veteran starter Bronson Arroyo, who has remained in Viera, Fla. rehabbing rotator cuff tendon tears and inflammation, is attempting to change his delivery to a three-quarters arm slot. Arroyo figured to be rotation depth for the Nationals anyway.
“Because it hurts if he gets on top,” Baker said. “So we’re taking our time. And if not, if nothing else, he’s a good guy to have in your organization.”
>>> Ben Revere, who is returning from a right oblique strain, is playing his fifth rehab game on Tuesday night with Class AAA Syracuse. He is 2 for 11 with one walk and one stolen base so far.
Baker has said he hopes Revere will return for the upcoming series in Chicago. He is leaning on minor league catching coordinator Michael Barrett, who was with Syracuse this week, and vice president of player development Bob Boone to offer their evaluations of the center fielder’s progress.
