NC State’s Patrick Bailey Projected as a 1st Round Pick in 2020 MLB Draft

It looks like NC State could have players drafted in the 1st Round of the MLB Draft in back-to-back years.

Shortstop Will Wilson was taken by the Los Angeles Angels with the 15th overall pick earlier this month, and MLB.com projects that Catcher Patrick Bailey will follow suit.

Bailey is projected to be taken 8th overall by the Cincinnati Reds.

8. Reds: Patrick Bailey, C, North Carolina State
The class of the 2020 catchers, Bailey is a switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate as well as solid throwing, receiving and blocking skills.

MLB

If Bailey were to be taken 8th overall next year, he would become the 2nd highest drafted player in NC State history behind Pitcher Carlos Rodon, who was taken 3rd overall by the Chicago White Sox back in 2014.

The Wolfpack have only had 7 players ever drafted in the 1st round, and have never had players taken in the 1st round in back-to-back years.

Bailey hit .288 as a Sophomore this year, with 68 hits, 17 doubles, 10 homers and a .513 slugging percentage in 2019. Defensively, he committed just five errors in 476 chances for a .989 fielding percentage.