2016 Sycamore graduate and stand-out War Eagle baseball player, Bailey Baker, will be spending his second year of college at the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM). In late June, Baker officially became a part of the Skyhawks Division I baseball team.
According to Skyhawks Head Coach Rick Robinson, the team is currently struggling with a depth issue. He believes that they will greatly benefit from having Baker in the outfield.
“Bailey is one of the best athletes to ever come out of Sycamore, so it only makes sense to recruit a player of his caliber,” said Robinson.
While playing at Sycamore under esteemed Head Coach Daniel Smiley, Baker boasted 202 hits over four years and finished his career 4th in the state in hits by a single player.
“He is one of the best hitters ever to play in the state of Tennessee,” said Smiley.
Baker is the first Sycamore baseball player in school history to move on to a DI college, according to Smiley.
Baker, who was plagued with a series of injuries during his first post-high school season at Columbia, says he is healthy once again and intends to stay that way throughout the 2018 season.
“I am looking forward to getting to continue my education while playing baseball. I am also anticipating meeting new people and my teammates,” said Baker.
Robinson, who is thrilled to have Baker join the team, boasts 760 wins in his 20-year coaching career and has led the Skyhawks to numerous record-breaking highlights since he came on as head coach in 2014.
“Bailey is exactly the kind of person we were looking for; he is a great athlete, a great student, and an outstanding person from a quality family. This will be a great fit for both Bailey and UTM Baseball,” added Coach Robinson.
Baker, who has not yet declared a major, will move onto the UTM campus on August 26 and continue down the path of studying biology and math.
