NATE BAKER

12/27/87; '09 5th; Univ. of Mississippi
L/L; 6-3, 193

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	HR	BB	K	BB/9	K/9	WHIP	OAVG	ERA
2007 NCAA	6-2-0	16	12	64.1	63	9	20	40	2.8	5.6	1.29	.253	3.92
2008 NCAA	3-6-0	13	10	53.1	65	6	19	41	3.2	6.9	1.58	.297	4.89
2009 NCAA	4-3-1	20	7	67.0	74	5	16	69	2.1	9.3	1.34	.285	3.63
2009 A-	0-0-0	6	1	16.0	11	0	2	9	1.1	5.1	0.81	.193	1.69

Baker's draft stock moved up after he bounced back from a mediocre sophomore season, partly due to an increase in velocity. He throws around 88-92, which is good for a lefty, and also has a slider and change. His K rate jumped significantly in 2009. He showed good control in college but paid for it with some gopher ball problems. Baker signed in late July and headed to State College, where he pitched a limited amount the rest of the way.  He had little trouble.  The low K rate could just be a product of a small sample size.  Baker could open 2009 with either class A team.  Justin Wilson, also a 5th round pick, opened at Lynchburg despite not pitching at all for State College.  Wilson didn't have a smooth transition to that level, though, so it'll be interesting to see how aggressive the Pirates are with Baker.

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