The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1249704
48 ■ THE WOLFPACKER wolfpacker spotlight PATRICK BAILEY Baseball In what is almost certain to be his final season in a Wolfpack uniform, junior catcher Patrick Bailey left a grand mark during an abbreviated campaign. When the season was called off after 17 games, Bailey was batting .296 with six home runs and 20 runs batted in (RBI). The switch hitter was one off the conference lead shared by three others for the most dingers in the ACC, and two of Bailey's bombs were grand slams. Bailey was also tied for second in the league in RBI. The Greensboro, N.C., native has been widely re- garded as one of the best catchers in the country since he arrived at NC State. He hit .321 with 13 hom- ers and 40 RBI as a rookie en route to being named the ACC Freshman of the Year and a consensus first- team Freshman All-American. A year later, he pro- duced a .288 batting average with 10 home runs and 46 RBI, and was named first-team All-ACC and a Collegiate Baseball third-team All-American. Long on the radar of Major League Baseball scouts, Bailey is eligible for what will be a shortened, five- round draft in June. Bailey will not have to wait long to hear his name called. He is a certain first-round pick and potentially a top-10 overall selection, with MLB.com rating him the top catcher available. MLB.com noted that Bailey's pop and consistent ability to make contact and draw walks make him a good bet to become a regular catcher at the next level. "Even if he doesn't hit, Bailey provides enough de- fense to at least serve as a backup," the site said. "He's more athletic and moves better than most catchers." Both Jim Callis of MLB.com and Keith Law of The Athletic noted that the Pittsburgh Pirates with pick No. 7 have been linked to Bailey, although each ul- timately pegged him to go with the 11th choice to the Chicago White Sox, home of former NC State ace left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon. — Matt Carter/Photo courtesy NC State Media Relations