Simply put, being a catcher at the MLB level is tough work. They are battered with foul balls and balls in the dirt daily and expected to be a big contributor with their bats.
Catchers are also expected to be on the same page as every single pitcher on their staff and are challenged with needing to know scouting reports of opposing hitters to put their pitchers in a better position. This position is one of the most important in the game, even with ABS coming next season.
Many catchers aspire to win a Gold Glove or two during their career, and San Francisco Giants‘ Patrick Bailey has his chance to take home his second consecutive one. He is a finalist alongside Chicago Cubs‘ Carson Kelly and New York Mets‘ Luis Torrens.
Giants’ Patrick Bailey looking to secure second consecutive Gold Glove
Patrick Bailey won his first Gold Glove last season and has the chance to take home another one. His ace pitcher, Logan Webb, is also a finalist on the pitching side, and if both can win, it would be the first time a pitching/catching tandem won the award in the same season since Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright did it in 2013.
Bailey is considered one of the best defensive catchers in the game, and it will be hard to overtake him. Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer also suggests it will be quite hard to deny Bailey the Gold Glove.
“As such, it’s hard to fathom Bailey being denied his second straight Gold Glove. He had nearly twice as many Defensive Runs Saved (+19) as the next-best catcher, and was first in Framing Runs and third in Stealing Runs.”
Bailey has been phenomenal in multiple categories, like DRS, Framing Runs, and Stealing Runs. He is somebody who consistently keeps the ball in front of him, can steal strikes when need be, and his 30.7% caught-stealing rate ranked him second among all other catchers this past season.
