Patrick Bailey

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #27 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: The Giants made Bailey the 13th overall pick of the 2020 draft after a decorated career at North Carolina State and signed him for $3,797,500. Expected to be a quick riser, Bailey instead struggled with injuries and underperformance in his pro debut and was sent back to High-A Eugene for a repeat season in 2022. He again struggled to hit with a .225 average but showed flashes of power, patience and defense.
  
  Scouting Report: Bailey has long stood out for his defense and is easily the best defensive catcher in the Giants system. He's a plus defender with quick, quiet hands behind the plate and is adept in both receiving and blocking. His average arm strength plays up with his sound footwork and quick release and led him to throw out 30% of attempted basestealers in 2022. Bailey's offensive game is more of a work in progress. He's a switch hitter with an inconsistent approach and gets in trouble when he starts chasing power. His swing can be a bit grooved as well, especially from the right side. Bailey is a vastly better hitter from the left side (.252, .851 OPS) than the right (.133, 460 OPS) and may need to scrap switch-hitting.
  
  The Future: Bailey will move to Double-A in 2023 and try to become more consistent at the plate. He has the ceiling of a defensive-minded backup catcher.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 30. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Bailey’s decorated college career included three seasons as the starting catcher for North Carolina State and two stints with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. He established a reputation as a rock-solid defender capable of handling championship-caliber pitching staffs. After the Giants drafted him No. 13 overall in 2020, Bailey immediately reported to the team’s alternate training site before finishing at instructional league. His official pro debut was hampered by early-season struggles at High-A Eugene and a back injury that forced him to return to the Giants’ minor league complex in Arizona. Once healed, he was sent to Low-A San Jose to finish the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Bailey struggled to replicate his collegiate success in his pro debut, especially at the plate. Despite decent swing mechanics, he was often late on fastballs and couldn’t adjust to breaking pitches. He hit the ball fairly hard—his average exit velocity was 89 mph—but he didn’t hit it often enough. Internal evaluators believe he may have been pressing early and trying to impress too much, which led to his poor start before the injury. Bailey performed well enough behind the plate, where quick mechanics made up for just average arm strength. He’s a solid receiver and blocker and works well with pitchers, but there were also those during the Arizona Fall League who questioned Bailey’s effort level behind the plate.
  
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #7 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 40. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Bailey started all three years behind the plate at North Carolina State and was twice chosen for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Known for his defense, he slammed six home runs in 17 games for the Wolfpack before the pandemic shut the 2020 season down. The Giants drafted Bailey 13th overall and signed him for $3,757,500. Bailey reported to the alternate training site after signing and finished the year in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bailey’s makeup and work ethic jump out as much as his physical abilities. He immediately impressed the Giants with his willingness to learn new pitchers and drew particular praise from Jeff Samardzija for his professionalism. Bailey is a skilled receiver, especially when it comes presenting and handling balls low in the strike zone or in the dirt. He makes strong, accurate throws to the bases, even when letting it fly from his knees. The switch-hitting Bailey has different setups in each swing. He takes a loftier swing path from the left side, where he is more of a power threat, and a flatter, contact-oriented swing from the right side.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Giants thought Bailey presented the best combination of skills at a premium position and were happy to draft him, even with the presence of Joey Bart.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #14 prospect in 2020 draft
  Bailey was heralded as one of the best defensive catchers in the country coming out of high school in 2017, but scouts were concerned about the offensive impact he would provide. He wasted no time at North Carolina State showing he could hit, leading all Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen in batting (.321), total bases (113) and slugging percentage (.604) while also setting a new NC State freshman home run record (13). While Bailey showed he could hit with the Wolfpack, his strengths are still on the defensive side of the ball. He earns plus grades for his catching skills and his throwing arm, giving pitchers tremendous confidence that they can rip off their best breaking ball without having to worry about it trickling to the backstop. Bailey is one of the rare college catchers who calls his own game and he draws plenty of praise for his leadership behind the plate. Offensively, Bailey certainly has more thump than scouts expected back in high school and has shown above-average raw power from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter. His swing is more fluid with better contact ability from the left side, and most scouts think he’s more of a power bat than a true hitter, with grades ranging from below-average to average on his future hit tool. Bailey has a solid eye at the plate, as evidenced by a 12.8-percent career walk rate, but there are concerns about the swing-and-miss tendencies that he showed last summer with USA’s Collegiate National Team (he led the team with 12 strikeouts) and early in the 2020 season. Still, catchers have a low bar to clear offensively. As the best defender in the class with average or better power potential, Bailey will be a coveted player in the first round.
• Ranked #299 prospect in 2017 draft
  Bailey is one of the best defensive catchers in the class with excellent catch-and-throw skills. But scouts are near unanimous in their worries about how much offense he will produce. The N.C. State signee shows some ability to make contact from both sides of the plate, but lacks prototypical power for the professional game. Bailey may get a chance to prove his bat in college, but a team looking for a catcher who can handle velocity and give pitchers confidence in burying their best slider could be enticed to spend some money on him, hoping that his bat and power will develop.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: The Giants made Bailey the 13th overall pick of the 2020 draft after a decorated career at North Carolina State and signed him for $3,797,500. Expected to be a quick riser, Bailey instead struggled with injuries and underperformance in his pro debut and was sent back to High-A Eugene for a repeat season in 2022. He again struggled to hit with a .225 average but showed flashes of power, patience and defense.
  
  Scouting Report: Bailey has long stood out for his defense and is easily the best defensive catcher in the Giants system. He's a plus defender with quick, quiet hands behind the plate and is adept in both receiving and blocking. His average arm strength plays up with his sound footwork and quick release and led him to throw out 30% of attempted basestealers in 2022. Bailey's offensive game is more of a work in progress. He's a switch hitter with an inconsistent approach and gets in trouble when he starts chasing power. His swing can be a bit grooved as well, especially from the right side. Bailey is a vastly better hitter from the left side (.252, .851 OPS) than the right (.133, 460 OPS) and may need to scrap switch-hitting.
  
  The Future: Bailey will move to Double-A in 2023 and try to become more consistent at the plate. He has the ceiling of a defensive-minded backup catcher.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 30. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: The Giants made Bailey the 13th overall pick of the 2020 draft after a decorated career at North Carolina State and signed him for $3,797,500. Expected to be a quick riser, Bailey instead struggled with injuries and underperformance in his pro debut and was sent back to High-A Eugene for a repeat season in 2022. He again struggled to hit with a .225 average but showed flashes of power, patience and defense.
  
  Scouting Report: Bailey has long stood out for his defense and is easily the best defensive catcher in the Giants system. He's a plus defender with quick, quiet hands behind the plate and is adept in both receiving and blocking. His average arm strength plays up with his sound footwork and quick release and led him to throw out 30% of attempted basestealers in 2022. Bailey's offensive game is more of a work in progress. He's a switch hitter with an inconsistent approach and gets in trouble when he starts chasing power. His swing can be a bit grooved as well, especially from the right side. Bailey is a vastly better hitter from the left side (.252, .851 OPS) than the right (.133, 460 OPS) and may need to scrap switch-hitting.
  
  The Future: Bailey will move to Double-A in 2023 and try to become more consistent at the plate. He has the ceiling of a defensive-minded backup catcher.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 30. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Bailey’s decorated college career included three seasons as the starting catcher for North Carolina State and two stints with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. He established a reputation as a rock-solid defender capable of handling championship-caliber pitching staffs. After the Giants drafted him No. 13 overall in 2020, Bailey immediately reported to the team’s alternate training site before finishing at instructional league. His official pro debut was hampered by early-season struggles at High-A Eugene and a back injury that forced him to return to the Giants’ minor league complex in Arizona. Once healed, he was sent to Low-A San Jose to finish the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Bailey struggled to replicate his collegiate success in his pro debut, especially at the plate. Despite decent swing mechanics, he was often late on fastballs and couldn’t adjust to breaking pitches. He hit the ball fairly hard—his average exit velocity was 89 mph—but he didn’t hit it often enough. Internal evaluators believe he may have been pressing early and trying to impress too much, which led to his poor start before the injury. Bailey performed well enough behind the plate, where quick mechanics made up for just average arm strength. He’s a solid receiver and blocker and works well with pitchers, but there were also those during the Arizona Fall League who questioned Bailey’s effort level behind the plate.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 40. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Bailey started all three years behind the plate at North Carolina State and was twice chosen for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. Known for his defense, he slammed six home runs in 17 games for the Wolfpack before the pandemic shut the 2020 season down. The Giants drafted Bailey 13th overall and signed him for $3,757,500. Bailey reported to the alternate training site after signing and finished the year in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bailey's makeup and work ethic jump out as much as his physical abilities. He immediately impressed the Giants with his willingness to learn new pitchers and drew particular praise from Jeff Samardzija for his professionalism. Bailey is a skilled receiver, especially when it comes presenting and handling balls low in the strike zone or in the dirt. He makes strong, accurate throws to the bases, even when letting it fly from his knees. The switch-hitting Bailey has different setups in each swing. He takes a loftier swing path from the left side, where he is more of a power threat, and a flatter, contact-oriented swing from the right side.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Giants thought Bailey presented the best combination of skills at a premium position and were happy to draft him, even with the presence of Joey Bart.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 40. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Bailey started all three years behind the plate at North Carolina State and was twice chosen for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Known for his defense, he slammed six home runs in 17 games for the Wolfpack before the pandemic shut the 2020 season down. The Giants drafted Bailey 13th overall and signed him for $3,757,500. Bailey reported to the alternate training site after signing and finished the year in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bailey’s makeup and work ethic jump out as much as his physical abilities. He immediately impressed the Giants with his willingness to learn new pitchers and drew particular praise from Jeff Samardzija for his professionalism. Bailey is a skilled receiver, especially when it comes presenting and handling balls low in the strike zone or in the dirt. He makes strong, accurate throws to the bases, even when letting it fly from his knees. The switch-hitting Bailey has different setups in each swing. He takes a loftier swing path from the left side, where he is more of a power threat, and a flatter, contact-oriented swing from the right side.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Giants thought Bailey presented the best combination of skills at a premium position and were happy to draft him, even with the presence of Joey Bart.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 40. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Bailey started all three years behind the plate at North Carolina State and was twice chosen for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Known for his defense, he slammed six home runs in 17 games for the Wolfpack before the pandemic shut the 2020 season down. The Giants drafted Bailey 13th overall and signed him for $3,757,500. Bailey reported to the alternate training site after signing and finished the year in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bailey’s makeup and work ethic jump out as much as his physical abilities. He immediately impressed the Giants with his willingness to learn new pitchers and drew particular praise from Jeff Samardzija for his professionalism. Bailey is a skilled receiver, especially when it comes presenting and handling balls low in the strike zone or in the dirt. He makes strong, accurate throws to the bases, even when letting it fly from his knees. The switch-hitting Bailey has different setups in each swing. He takes a loftier swing path from the left side, where he is more of a power threat, and a flatter, contact-oriented swing from the right side.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Giants thought Bailey presented the best combination of skills at a premium position and were happy to draft him, even with the presence of Joey Bart.
• December, 2019 Scouting Report
  Bailey was heralded as one of the best defensive catchers in the country coming out of high school in 2017, but scouts were concerned about the offensive impact he would provide. He wasted no time at North Carolina State showing he could hit, leading all Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen in batting (.321), total bases (113) and slugging percentage (.604) while also setting a new NC State freshman home run record (13). While Bailey showed he could hit with the Wolfpack, his strengths are still on the defensive side of the ball. He earns plus grades for his catching skills and his throwing arm, giving pitchers tremendous confidence that they can rip off their best breaking ball without having to worry about it trickling to the backstop. Bailey is one of the rare college catchers who calls his own game and he draws plenty of praise for his leadership behind the plate. Offensively, Bailey certainly has more thump than scouts expected back in high school and has shown above-average raw power from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter. His swing is more fluid with better contact ability from the left side, and most scouts think he’s more of a power bat than a true hitter, with grades ranging from below-average to average on his future hit tool. Bailey has a solid eye at the plate, as evidenced by a 12.8-percent career walk rate, but there are concerns about the swing-and-miss tendencies that he showed last summer with USA’s Collegiate National Team (he led the team with 12 strikeouts) and early in the 2020 season. Still, catchers have a low bar to clear offensively. As the best defender in the class with average or better power potential, Bailey will be a coveted player in the first round.