Aaron Baker, Once Again, is Player of the Week

Frederick, MD - Once again, Frederick Keys first baseman Aaron Baker has been named Carolina League Player of the Week, this time for the week of July 2nd - July 8th. Baker went 12-for-32, hitting four homeruns and eleven RBI in the stretch on his way to a .375 batting average and .906 slugging percentage for the week.

Baker earlier won the honor for the week of June 18th - 25th as he becomes the first Keys position player to earn two Player of the Week honors in the same year since Tyler Townsend did so in 2010. Townsend won the award in consecutive weeks to close out the 2010 season.

Rated by Baseball America as having the best power in the Baltimore Orioles organization, Baker's 19 homeruns lead the Carolina League along with his 66 RBI. His .548 slugging percentage is first among active players in the league while ranking second in total bases with 159 and third in extra base hits with 40.

Of all Advanced-A players, Baker ranks third in homeruns and fourth in RBI.

Since starting out the year hitting .184 with five homeruns through May 16th, Baker has since hit .312 with a .620 slugging percentage, including 14 homeruns, 13 doubles and two triples. Since that low point in mid-May, 29 of Baker's 60 hits have been extra-base hits.

Entering the 2012 season ranked as the 14th-best Orioles prospect by Baseball America, Baker currently holds a triple slash line of .269 / .350 / .548 through 80 games with the Keys.

Baker was traded to the Orioles at the trade deadline on July 30th, 2011 from the Pirates in exchange for three-time Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star Derrek Lee.