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Patrick Bailey is headed to the west coast. As anticipated, Bailey heard his name called early in the 2020 MLB Draft, going at No. 13 overall to the San Francisco Giants. Bailey will join former teammate and fellow first-round pick Will Wilson, whom the Giants acquired last year, in the San Francisco system.
Bailey hit .296/.466/.685 in the coronavirus-shortened 2020 college baseball season, putting him well on the way to the big year everybody expected out of him. He hit six home runs in 17 games, and easily would have topped the 10 home runs he hit in 2019, when he slashed .288/.390/.513.
Like Wilson, Bailey will have an opportunity to move up quickly in San Francisco, which fielded one of the oldest lineups in Major League Baseball last season.
Catcher is not a loaded position this year, and Patrick Bailey is easily the best college catcher in this draft. Switch-hitter with power, outstanding makeup, receives and blocks and throws. The tools don’t leap off the page, but I think it all adds up to a Varitek-like package. https://t.co/37i1vDcADA
— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) June 11, 2020
The Giants grab NC State’s Patrick Bailey at 1️⃣3️⃣❗️#MLBDraft
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) June 11, 2020
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R1.
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) June 11, 2020
Pick 13.
Patrick Bailey is headed to the @SFGiants! The catcher becomes the ninth first rounder in @NCStateBaseball history!#GoPack // #NCState pic.twitter.com/rTcd7a0czw
Since 2014, NC State has had four players selected in the top 15: Carlos Rodon (3rd in 2014), Trea Turner (13th in 2014), Bailey, and Wilson (15th in 2019).