Patrick Bailey

Lore & Background

Patrick Bailey was born on May 29, 1999 to Steve and Celeste Bailey, in Greensboro, North Carolina. He attended Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, North Carolina, where he played catcher. In 2016, he played for the U-18 United States national baseball team. In 2017, he batted .510/.561/.947 with 13 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, and 33 RBIs in 96 at bats.

He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 37th round of the 2017 MLB draft, but did not sign and chose to play college baseball at North Carolina State University. In 2018, his freshman year at NC State, he slashed .321/.419/.604 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs, earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors. He played collegiate summer baseball with the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was selected for the United States collegiate national team.

As a sophomore in 2019, he batted .288/.390/.513 with 10 home runs and was named to the All-ACC First Team. As a junior in 2020, he hit .296/.466/.685 with six home runs before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was selected 13th overall by the San Francisco Giants in the 2020 MLB draft and signed for a $3.8 million bonus. He made his professional debut in 2021 with the Eugene Emeralds, later playing for the San Jose Giants.

In 2022, he hit .225/.342/.420 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs for Eugene, and won the MiLB Gold Glove as the best defensive catcher in the minor leagues. He began 2023 with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, then was promoted to the Sacramento River Cats. On May 19, 2023, he was promoted to the major leagues. On May 21, he hit his first major league home run.

On August 1, he ended a game with a walk-off pick-off from his knees. On August 13, he caught a runner trying to steal with the fastest pop time to second base by a Giants catcher under Statcast. In 2023, he won his first Gold Glove Award. In 2024, he won his second Gold Glove Award.

Reader's Guide

Patrick Bailey is a catcher known for his defensive prowess, having won Gold Glove Awards in 2024 and 2025. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and was traded to the Cleveland Guardians during the 2026 season. His notable achievements include a walk-off inside-the-park home run and a walk-off grand slam in the same season (2025), a first in MLB history.

Did You Know?

• Bailey hit a walk-off inside-the-park home run on July 8, 2025, the first by a Giant since Ángel Pagán in 2013 and the first by a catcher since Bennie Tate in 1926.
• On September 12, 2025, Bailey hit a walk-off grand slam, the first by a Giant since Jack Hiatt in 1969.