SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey makes history with latest walk-off home run

SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey has saved his hits for some of the biggest moments this year. He has three walk-off hits in 2025, including an inside-the-park homer and grand slam, becoming the first player in baseball history to do it on separate occasions in the same season, per Sarah Langs of MLB.Com.

SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey makes history with latest walk-off home run

The big caveat here is that Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente did achieve both of these on the same play in 1956. That came in a 9-8 win over the Chicago Cubs. It is hard to have a more thrilling play in baseball than an inside-the-park, walk-off grand slam. Perhaps, the only way to top that would be doing it to end the World Series.

Bailey knows what both of these moments feel like. On July 8, he stepped up to the plate with one out and two runners on base in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Giants were down by two runs, and he blasted a ball to deep, right-center field. The ball deflected off the brick wall and away from the defense. That gave Bailey the chance to round the bases and walk it off in an unlikely fashion.

On Friday night, the switch-hitter demonstrated yet again a knack for the big hit. He came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th inning. Bailey blasted the second pitch of the at-bat off of Tanner Scott for a walk-off grand slam against the division rivals. Duane Kuiper's calls are still as good as it gets in the big moments.

That was Bailey's first home run from the right side since 2023. It marked the sixth grand slam by a Giants hitter this year. Three of those grand slams have come against the Dodgers.

That also was the team's 11th walk-off hit of the season. Three of those hits belong to Bailey. This becomes even more bizarre when you consider that the 26-year-old backstop has not had a strong season at the plate. He has posted a .601 OPS with six home runs and 50 RBI in 410 plate appearances. Oddly enough, four of those home runs have come in 10 games this month.

Bailey's offensive production looks to be trending in the right direction. Plus, he continues to provide elite defense behind the plate. Many teams will make a tradeoff for defense at catcher, and Bailey's career arc reflects that tradeoff. Bailey may never hit a more important home run than the one he clubbed on Friday.

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