Reliever James Baker will be counted once again in the RailCast bullpen in 2011 after being acquired via trade from the Grand Prairie Air Hogs of the American Association in February.

Baker, 26, was a solid contributor to the 2010 squad. The righty was called on regularly out of the bullpen for the ‘Cats pitching in 47.2 innings and appearing in 39 games. Baker also held opposing hitters to a paltry .239 batting average with the RailCats and was especially tough with runners on base and in scoring position holding opponents to .217 and .204 averages, respectively. After a rough month of June, Baker rebounded to post a 3.27 ERA in July in 11 appearances.

Before coming to Northwest Indiana, Baker made his name in the Northeast, pitching primarily in the Can-Am League. Baker boasted an ERA under 2.00 each of his first two professional campaigns before being slowed by an injury that limited the right-hander to only 11 appearances 2009 season.  Seven of those 11 games, however, came with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League and Baker allowed only five hits in his 8.1 innings there.

A former college closer, Baker went 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA in his first professional season with the Nashua Pride, limiting opposing hitters to a .179 average (21 hits in 34.1 innings) and earning an invitation to San Diego Padres Spring Training the following March.  After being released by the Padres, Baker went back to the Can-Am League and had another phenomenal season, going 4-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 37 games for the North Shore Spirit in 2007, striking out 40 in 52.0 innings and again holding opponents to a sub-.200 average.

Baker, a native of Boxford, Massachusetts, spent four seasons at Division III Wheaton (Mass.) College, leading the Lyons to the National Championship Game at the College World Series in 2006.  An All-Conference and All-Region pick as a senior, Baker went 10-1 with 10 saves in his college career.

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