Matt Carpenter, Luken Baker Added To Cardinals Roster
The St. Louis Cardinals added designated hitter Matt Carpenter (lower back strain), and first baseman/designated hitter Luken Baker to the roster on Tuesday. Carpenter was on the injured list, while Baker was recalled from Triple-A Rochester. Carpenter is hitting .255/.331/.382 with three homers, 11 RBI, and 13 runs scored, while Baker was hitting .231/.345/.535 with 32 homers, 71 RBI, and 54 runs scored with Rochester. While Carpenter won't have much fantasy value, Baker's power makes him a very intriguing waiver-wire addition, especially in deeper league formats.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Luken Baker went 2-for-4 with two home runs on Tuesday for Triple-A Memphis. In just 97 games, Baker has mashed 30 homers for the Redbirds this season. He also has 17 doubles, 74 RBI, and an .896 OPS. Despite his season-long performance, Baker likely won't get big-league reps at first base anytime soon. With the Cardinals having Paul Goldschmidt, he'd likely transition to a DH role, should he be recalled. Regardless, hitting 30 home runs in less than 100 games deserves some attention, and he could return to the majors if the Cardinals need a power-hitting replacement.
This past June, St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer Luken Baker posted a 1.000 OPS in 99 plate appearances with Triple-A Memphis. His hot streak extends back to the start of May. Since then, he's slashing .253/.363/.629 with 10 doubles, 18 home runs, 39 RBI, and a 30:49 BB/SO ratio. He' currently leads the league in homers, with 23. Regarding the chances of big-league promotion, he likely won't see time at first anytime soon, due to the Cardinals having Paul Goldschmidt. But if Baker continues mashing in the minors, he could possibly get some time at DH. Regardless, he's worth keeping an eye on, as we near the second half.
St. Louis Cardinals prospect Luken Baker mashed his 32nd home run of the season on Wednesday, leading all other minor league hitters. The 26-year-old now carries a blistering .339/.446/.727 slash line through 82 games with Triple-A Memphis. Baker is something of a late bloomer, but his offensive approach has taken a massive leap forward in 2023, thanks mainly to his improved plate discipline. The result is a 15.9% walk rate and a 181 wRC+. Unfortunately, Baker lacks positional flexibility and is blocked at first base by Paul Goldschmidt on the major-league roster. Baker will become a worthwhile fantasy consideration if he can find a clear path to playing time.
