NAPA, Calif. -- The Giants still have question marks at several positions as they prepare to decamp to Arizona for the start of Spring Training next week, but they can rest assured knowing that catcher isn’t one of them. 

After establishing himself as one of the premier defensive backstops in baseball last year, Patrick Bailey is expected to reprise his starting role behind the plate and lead a catching group that includes newcomer Tom Murphy, who joined the Giants on a two-year, $8.25 million deal this offseason. 

Bailey’s emergence as the Giants’ catcher of the future was one of the few bright spots of an otherwise disappointing 2023 campaign, as the 24-year-old was named a National League Gold Glove Award finalist as a rookie. Bailey was ultimately edged by Gabriel Moreno of the rival D-backs, but he said he remains motivated to continue to improve with the glove in 2024 and beyond. 

“It was obviously a cool feeling to be recognized, especially with that group of catchers,” Bailey said at the Giants’ third FanFest Tour stop on Saturday. “Every year, I’m trying to put out the best product I can and be the best defender I can possibly be and control what I can control.” 

Bailey has acknowledged that he wore down physically toward the end of the season after appearing in a career-high 125 games between the Majors and the Minors in 2023, so he focused on building his strength back this winter to ensure that he can do a better job of withstanding the workload in his second year in the big leagues.  

“I lost a lot of weight during the season last year,” said Bailey, who estimated that he dropped as much as 15 pounds in 2023. “I felt like I lost a lot of strength towards the end. That’s probably been the biggest emphasis. Swing-wise, from the left side, just simplifying as much as I can. Just to be able to hopefully repeat the swing and I guess make it easier for myself.”  

Bailey got to spend some time with new manager Bob Melvin on Saturday and said he’s looking forward to playing for the former big league catcher. He’s also eager to get to know Jordan Hicks and Robbie Ray, the Giants’ top two pitching acquisitions this offseason. 

“I’m really excited about both of them,” Bailey said. “Obviously, you’ve got Robbie Ray, who’s been a Cy Young Award winner. That’s pretty valuable. And then Jordan Hicks throwing 100 mph sinkers as a starter is going to be pretty fun.”

With Ray (Tommy John surgery) and Alex Cobb (left hip surgery) expected to be out until midseason, the Giants will be relying on young starters like Kyle Harrison, Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck to cover gaps in the rotation early in the year, but Bailey said he’s confident the trio will be able to step in and deliver. 

“I think Kyle, Keaton and Tristan had really, really good years last year,” Bailey said. “I think more than anything, it’s just kind of building confidence that they can be successful big league pitchers. I think all of them earned the opportunity they’re going to get this year. Hopefully we can keep building off the success they had last year.”

It’s been an eventful offseason for outfielder Michael Conforto, who welcomed his first child, a baby boy named Camden Luca, on Dec. 21. 

“It was really, really fun to become a dad and to feel all those feelings and just have my world and my whole perspective just blown apart,” Conforto said. “It’s just such an awesome miracle. It’s been special.” 

Conforto had the ability to opt out of his two-year, $36 million contract at the end of last year, but he decided to return for a second season with the Giants after hitting .239 with a .718 OPS and 15 home runs in 2023, his first season back from right shoulder surgery. 

While he enjoyed living in the Bay Area and playing with his teammates, Conforto said Melvin also helped convince him to stay by reaching out shortly after he was hired to replace Gabe Kapler in October. 

“When they brought in Bob, he reached out to me, and he expressed that he would love to have me back,” Conforto said. “That meant a lot as well. It’s kind of just a combination of everything. I really think that we can win. Even early on in the offseason, not knowing who we were going to have, what we had at the time was enough for me to believe that we could go out there and compete and make the playoffs and make a run at the World Series. I had that belief. I wouldn't have come back if I didn’t.” 

Conforto’s agent is Scott Boras, who also happens to represent top free agents like Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger and J.D. Martinez. Conforto grew up playing against Snell in the Seattle area and has worked out with Chapman in previous offseasons, so he wouldn’t mind joining forces with either of them in San Francisco. 

“I’m not making those decisions, but I see a lot of good names out there that I’d love to be teammates with,” Conforto said. “I know Chap. He’s an awesome guy. He’s a leader. I think he’s capable of being an MVP someday. … I think he’s capable of being one of those game-changing guys.” 

Here are some recent Giants stories you might have missed over the last week:

• The Giants cleared a spot on their pitching staff by trading right-hander Ross Stripling to the A’s in exchange for outfield prospect Jonah Cox on Friday. San Francisco didn’t wait long to fill the open spot on its 40-man roster, acquiring left-hander Ethan Small from the Brewers in exchange for cash considerations on Monday night. 

• Old friend Jakob Junis reportedly landed with Milwaukee on a one-year, $7 million deal on Monday. 

• The Giants and the City of San Francisco came together to celebrate franchise icon Willie Mays on Sunday, better known as 2/4/24. 

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