The Cleveland Guardians go into their game on Sunday afternoon against the visiting Minnesota Twins with possibly the best defensive catching duo in baseball.
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That’s because the Guardians acquired two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher Patrick Bailey from the San Francisco Giants on Saturday for left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson and Cleveland’s Competitive Balance Round A pick (29th overall) in the 2026 draft.
He will pair with Austin Hedges after Bo Naylor was sent to Triple-A Columbus after the trade. Utility man David Fry also can catch.
“I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve,” said Bailey, who has played his pro baseball career in the San Francisco organization, which selected him in the first round (13th overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft. “I’m ready to get going and see what’s under the tree.”
But Bailey, who turns 27 on May 29, also knows it will take a while to get comfortable.
“Just trying to get a feel for everybody. I’ve got no chance of getting everybody’s name right,” he added.
According to Fangraphs.com, Bailey’s Defensive Runs Above Average of 102.4 is the best in MLB since 2020.
“This is one of the best, if not the best defensive catcher in baseball,” said Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt. “… I got eight, nine texts from people in the Giants organization raving about him, not wanting him to leave.”
Bailey has struggled at the plate, hitting .146 (12-for-82) with a home run and five RBIs, a .213 on-base percentage and .396 OPS in 30 games with the Giants this season.
“Everybody’s going to see right away, what he’s capable of,” said Hedges, who has a DEF of 82.4 since 2021. “… He’s going to help us so much. He inspires me all of the time when I watch him.”
Bailey is expected to be in uniform and ready to play Sunday in the rubber game of the series after the Twins’ 2-1 win in 11 innings on Saturday night.
“I’m ready to get out there,” Bailey said. “I’ve been waiting to play with Hedges my whole career. To be able to work with him and learn from him. I’m super pumped.”
Gavin Williams (5-2, 3.28 ERA) is Cleveland’s scheduled starter Sunday.
Williams’ last start was a 5-3 loss at Kansas City on Tuesday in which he took the loss, giving up five runs and eight hits in six innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.
In seven appearances, all starts, against the Twins, Williams is 3-2 with a 2.61 ERA. His last start facing Minnesota came at home last Aug. 1, when he did not get a decision despite six innings of four-hit shutout ball. He walked two and struck out eight.
The Twins placed starting pitcher Taj Bradley (4-1, 2.87) on the 15-day injured list on Saturday, retroactive to Tuesday, with pec muscle inflammation.
Bradley had originally been scheduled to start Sunday, so Minnesota’s starter is slated to be opener Andrew Morris. The right-handed reliever is 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA, five walks and 15 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings in his rookie season.
Right-hander Travis Adams was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.
–Field Level Media
