SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey adds to his defensive résumé with latest award

SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey added to his growing defensive résumé with the latest award. On Thursday, Baseball Info Solutions published its Fielding Bible Awards, with Bailey earning the distinction at catcher as well as being recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year.

SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey adds to his defensive résumé with latest award

The award recognizes one recipient at each position, one multi-positional player, and one team.

The Fielding Bible Awards are voted on by a panel of experts who mix in statistical analysis and objective observations. Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) tends to carry a lot of weight with the statistical analysis.

This is the second straight year Patrick Bailey has taken home the Fielding Bible Award. He won it, along with Matt Chapman, last season.

This is only the third year that Sports Info Solutions has recognized a Defensive Player of the Year. Bailey becomes the first catcher for this distinction. Ke’Bryan Hayes earned the honor with the Pittsburg Pirates in 2023, followed by Daulton Varsho of the Toronto Blue Jays last year. 

Bailey led all catchers by a comfortable margin with 19 DRS in 2025. Freddy Fermin was second in that category with 13 DRS. He split time with the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres last season.

Bailey’s 19 DRS finished in a tie for third place with Hayes among all position players. Since 2023, Bailey leads all catchers with 52 DRS. Alejandro Kirk of the Blue Jays is second with 39 DRS.

Regardless of the defensive metric, the young Giants catcher grades out as an elite defender. He excels at framing, blocking, and controlling the running game.

There are questions about how his value will be impacted with the implementation of the challenge system next year. That is a fair question, and only time will tell.

This may not be the only award Bailey picks up this year. Bailey and fellow battery partner Logan Webb are finalists for the Gold Glove Award at catcher and pitcher, respectively. That will be revealed on November 2.

It would be a surprise if Bailey did not take that award home, too. He may even be a candidate for the Platinum Glove Award.