SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey records fastest pop time in MLB

The SF Giants rookie catcher Patrick Bailey set a new MLB record for the fastest pop time to second base since Statcast was implemented.

It's Tuesday, so that means SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey has probably done something historic again. On Sunday afternoon's game against the Texas Rangers, Bailey threw out Ezequiel Durán on an attempt to steal second base. Bailey's pop time on that play is now the fastest to second base in MLB this season at 1.71 seconds. Pop time, for reference, is the time elapsed from the moment the pitch hits the catcher's mitt to the moment his throw is is caught by intended infielder covering the base.

Oh btw he also throws out runners from time to time pic.twitter.com/FUDxY7YmGI

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 13, 2023

Not only that, but that throw is now the fastest pop time to second base in Giants history (from the Statcast era on, which began in 2015), and each of the top 14 throws on that list belong to... Bailey himself. This is especially significant, as franchise star Buster Posey was no stranger to throwing out runners attempting to steal second himself.

Though he was only called up in May, Bailey has already caught 33% of runners stealing and has recorded six expected runners caught stealing above the average expectancy of a catcher. In the minor leagues, Bailey was known for his defensive acumen, and even won a Minor League Gold Glove as the best defensive catcher in the minors with the High-A Eugene Emeralds in 2022.

Bailey's strengths behind the plate aren't limited to his keen eye on baserunners. The Giants pitching staff lauds him for his intense research before every game and the mental preparation he does for every batter the pitchers face. But the largest area of improvement for him is at the plate, where he's slashing .262/.309/.415. He's struck out 64 times in 248 plate appearances and has only drawn 13 walks. 

But despite his recent slump, he's one of the only prospects in the SF Giants' system that hasn't been volleyed between Triple-A and the majors since his call-up in May, in large part because of his stellar defense behind the plate. Over the weekend, Patrick Bailey only added to his growing list of defensive highlights with the fastest pop time to second base the league has seen in years.