According to Maria Guardado of MLB.com, catcher Daniel Susac is entering Spring Training with more than just a chance to compete for a roster spot with the San Francisco Giants. He’s also carrying a deep personal connection to the organization.

Susac grew up in Roseville, California, watching the Giants closely because his older brother, Andrew Susac, served as the backup to catcher Buster Posey during the club’s successful run from 2014-15. Those experiences helped shape his early love for the team.

“My brother was on the team,” Susac said. “Even if I didn’t like them, I had to. I went to a lot of games growing up, so it was a lot of fun.”

Now 24, Susac has a legitimate opportunity to carve out his own role in San Francisco after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft by the Minnesota Twins and quickly traded to the Giants from the Athletics in exchange for prospect Miguel Caraballo and cash considerations.

The Giants plan to give him a chance to compete for the backup catcher job behind Patrick Bailey.

Susac enters camp following a productive 2025 season at Triple-A, where he displayed power and consistency at the plate.

His offensive upside, paired with developing defensive skills, gives the organization another intriguing option behind the plate alongside competitors such as Jesús Rodríguez and non-roster invitee Eric Haase.

The opportunity also carries sentimental value. Susac still vividly remembers attending Game 5 of the 2014 National League Championship Series when Travis Ishikawa delivered a dramatic walk-off home run against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“That was a crazy one,” Susac said. “I just remember I kept going from place to place, watching throughout the stadium… Right when he hit it, we knew it was gone. That was a special moment.”

He also followed the Giants’ eventual World Series victory over the Kansas City Royals while listening on the radio, a memory that remains meaningful as he now attempts to join the franchise himself.

Susac said his focus remains simple as he competes for a roster spot.

“I think my mindset stays the same,” Susac said. “It’s just kind of show up every day and work hard and let the chips fall where they may.”

Giants manager Tony Vitello praised Susac’s defensive potential, particularly his arm strength and overall development behind the plate.

“I think the receiving is good for how long he is,” Vitello said. “I think he's in a developmental stage, too.”

Right-hander JT Brubaker, who previously played with Andrew Susac on the Pittsburgh Pirates, also noted the young catcher’s talent and familiarity within the baseball community.

With both personal history and organizational opportunity aligning, Susac now has a chance to turn childhood memories into the next chapter of his professional career.

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