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.
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