The Daniel Susac Rollercoaster: Why the Giants Are Stuck With Their Struggling Rookie Catcher

Meet Daniel Susac: The Rookie With a Hot Start

Imagine getting your dream job and absolutely crushing it during your first week. That’s exactly what happened to Daniel Susac when he joined the San Francisco Giants.

His incredible beginning:

• 11 hits in his first 23 at-bats (that’s hitting almost 50%!)
• Looked like the future star catcher the Giants desperately wanted
• Made an immediate impact with his right-handed bat

But then… things got complicated.

The "Rule 5" Rule: Why the Giants Can’t Just Send Him Down

IMPORTANT POINT: The Rule 5 Draft Explained Simply

Think of the Rule 5 draft like a "borrowing" system between MLB teams:

1. Team A (Oakland A’s) has a talented player they haven’t promoted yet
2. Team B (Minnesota Twins) "borrows" that player in a special draft
3. The catch: Team B must keep the player on their active MLB roster ALL YEAR
4. If Team B tries to send him to the minors, they must give him back to Team A for free
5. The Giants got Susac in a trade with the Twins, so they inherited this rule

What this means for Susac: The Giants cannot send him to the minor leagues to work on his swing. He either stays on the big league team, or he goes back to the Oakland A’s.

The Big Gamble: Trading Away Patrick Bailey

Why Did the Giants Trade Their Starting Catcher?

The Giants had Patrick Bailey — a Gold Glove-caliber defensive catcher who was "just okay" at hitting. Teams usually accept weak hitting from great defensive catchers, but the Giants wanted MORE offense from the position.

The thinking process:

1. Susac starts hot (11-for-23)
2. Backup Eric Haase hits well
3. Prospect Jesús Rodríguez shows promise at the plate
4. Decision: "We have enough catching offense now — let’s trade Bailey for future assets"

What they got back: A compensatory draft pick used to select Carson Bolemon (a long-term prospect)

HINDSIGHT ALERT: This might have been a short-sighted decision because:

• Susac immediately went into a massive slump
• Rodríguez struggles behind the plate (defense)
• The Giants now have no clear everyday catcher

The Ugly Numbers: Susac’s Slump By The Numbers

Since that amazing start, Susac has looked like a completely different player:

Advanced metrics that worry scouts:

• Bat Speed: 68.8 MPH (well below MLB average)
• Exit Velocity: 86.3 MPH (well below MLB average)
• Aggressive Approach: Swings at everything, rarely walks

Translation: There’s little evidence his power will suddenly appear. He’s a contact hitter who isn’t making enough contact lately.

The "Nowhere to Hide" Problem: No Good Alternatives

The Giants are stuck because their backup options aren’t much better:

Current Roster Catchers:

Minor League Option:

• Adrián Sugastey: Best defensive catcher in upper minors
• Problem: Would provide almost zero offense

Why the Giants Have No Move to Make

The Logical Options (And Why They Don’t Work):

1. Send Susac back to Oakland (Rule 5 return)

   • Giants would have zero experienced catchers
   • Rodríguez isn’t ready defensively
   • Sugastey offers no offense

2. Demote Susac to minors

   • Not allowed under Rule 5 rules
   • Would lose him for nothing

3. Trade for a catcher

   • Expensive, disrupts chemistry
   • No obvious upgrade available
4. Ride it out (Current Plan)
   • Hope Susac’s hot start wasn’t a fluke
   • Trust his track record in minors
   • Wait for health (2 IL stints hurt rhythm)
   • Pray for a better second half

Summary: Where Things Stand

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Giants bet big on offense over defense at catcher, traded away a Gold Glover, and now their "offensive solution" (Susac) has disappeared. Due to Rule 5 restrictions and zero viable alternatives, they’re forced to keep running Susac out there and hope he finds his swing again. It’s a high-wire act with no safety net — but sometimes in baseball, patience is the only play you have.

Key Takeaways:

• Susac’s Rule 5 status handcuffs the front office
• The Bailey trade looks questionable right now
• No minor league catcher solves both offense AND defense
• Best case: Susac heals up, adjusts, and rewards their patience
• Worst case: Lost season at catcher, but gained draft capital (Bolemon)

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

What exactly is the Rule 5 Draft?

Think of it as MLB’s way of preventing teams from hoarding talent. If a player has been in the minors a certain number of years without being added to the 40-man roster, other teams can "draft" them for $100,000. The catch? They must keep them on the active 26-man roster all season or offer them back to the original team for $50,000.

Why did the Giants trade Patrick Bailey if he was so good at defense?

The Giants front office decided offense from the catcher spot was more valuable than elite defense. They believed Susac + Haase + Rodríguez would provide MORE runs than Bailey’s glove saved. So far, that math hasn’t worked out.

Can’t they just play Jesús Rodríguez at catcher since he hits better?

They’ve tried, and the results were ugly. Rodríguez allows too many passed balls, struggles framing pitches, and pitchers don’t trust him yet. In MLB, a catcher who can’t defend costs you games — sometimes more than a bad hitter costs you runs.

Has Susac been hurt? Does that explain the slump?

Yes! He’s had two separate Injured List stints during his slump. Missing time destroys a rookie’s rhythm and timing. It’s very possible he’s still not 100% or simply hasn’t regained his feel after so much stop-and-start.

What happens if Susac never hits again this year?

The Giants will enter the offseason with a massive catching question mark. They’d likely:

1. Non-tender or trade someone to make 40-man space
2. Sign a veteran stopgap (think: Tucker Barnhart, Austin Wynns types)
3. Give Rodríguez all offseason to learn to catch
4. Hope Carson Bolemon (the draft pick from the Bailey trade) develops fast

Article based on reporting from Around the Foghorn. Statistics through games of early August 2025.