2020 Draft Preview: Patrick Bailey (Catcher)

NAME: Patrick Bailey
SCHOOL: North Carolina State
POSITION: Catcher
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6’2″, 192 lbs.
B/T: S/R
D.O.B.: May 29, 1999
PREVIOUSLY DRAFTED: 2017 – 37th Round Minnesota

Scouting Report

Patrick Bailey was drafted out of Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) by the Twinkies (gotta take shots when you can) in the 37th round in 2017. After declining the offer, he was named ACC Freshman of the year playing for NC State in 2018 with a first-year player school record 13 dingers.

He made the trip to the batter’s box 282 times in 2019 and produced a slash line of .288/.390/.513 and an OPS of .903. He added 10 more home runs, 17 doubles, and three triples to his career totals with an 18% K rate. He also walked 41 times. In a truncated 2020 season, his walk-up music played 54 times, his six long balls fueled a stellar OPS of 1.151 and he struck out at a much greater 33% clip but managed 17 walks and an off the charts OBP of .466.

Being a switch-hitter is a solid asset for a backstop, and he can reach the seats from both sides of the dish. As evidenced by his stat line, he’s a contact hitter that walks at a pretty good clip. However, his power makes him likely to be the first catcher chosen in the draft. On the negative side, he struggled with wood bats last summer.

Unlike many of the White Sox catching prospects, he delivers solid defense with a strong throwing arm. He’s an athletic catcher, but he has demonstrated some inconsistencies as a receiver.

Scouting Grades

Hit 45
Power 50
Run 40
Arm 55
Field 55

Overall 50 Scouting report and grades per MLB Pipeline

Prospect Overview and Future Outlook

The consensus on Bailey is that he is a defensive-minded catcher that will have no problem handling the position at the major league level. He projects to be average offensively, but his above-average power from both sides of the plate is his key differentiator. Factor in a robust batting eye, and it’s obvious why he is highly rated.

Mock Draft Outcomes

Most mock drafts had Bailey going in the middle of the first round, with at least one projecting him to the White Sox and another sending him to a team that plays on Clark and Addison. Regardless, he’ll probably be around when the White Sox make their selection at number 11. With major league ready defense and a polished approach at the plate, he’ll make a solid pick. This week however, Patrick Bailey was deemed as a fit for the Chicago White Sox in three separate projections.

Keith Law of The Athletic mentions that the White Sox haven’t used a first rounder on a prep player since 2012 and notes that the organization is thin on catching prospects. Baseball America released an update to their 2020 mock draft as well and the projection was the same for the Pale Hose. Carlos Collazo states that Bailey is the “best catcher in the draft and teams always need catchers.” Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline chimed in with an updated exercise as well. Callis mentions that the White Sox could look at pitching instead but he still puts the North Carolina State backstop in the 11th slot.

Potential Fit with the White Sox

Catching prospects are currently one of the most discussed topics among White Sox fans. With three older prospects on the 40-man roster, a high-profile battle for the last roster spot, and two capable catchers already on the major league roster, selecting a catcher in the first round would certainly ignite conversation.

On the surface, it seems crazy to add another MLB ready catcher to the mix. A more in-depth look suggests it is not absurd that they bring him in. Current backup James McCann may not be satisfied with that role and is a trade candidate. Zack Collins and Yermin Mercedes are high-end offensive performers, but their liabilities on defense make them unsuitable for a primary backup role. Seby Zavala can hold down the position defensively but hasn’t proven he can hit big league pitching. The talent level within the organization suffers a steep decline beyond these three players making adding a complete player with a short incubation period a viable option.

Photo credit: NC State Athletics

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