Rookie catcher Daniel Susac shows off two-way ability in Giants' loss to Orioles
Rookie catcher Daniel Susac shows off two-way ability in Giants' loss to Orioles originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
With every starting opportunity Daniel Susac gets, he’s showing why he is deserving of more playing time.
Not only has he made history offensively early on in his rookie 2026 MLB season, but in the Giants’ 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday at Camden Yards, Susac showed off more of his defensive prowess that just about everyone within the organization already was familiar with.
With one out and a runner on first base in the bottom of the second inning, Giants pitcher Adrian Houser struck out Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo , while Susac, from his knees, threw out Colton Cowser attempting to steal second base.
“I’ll mix it up every once in a while,” Susac said postgame when asked about throwing the runner out from his knees. “I think I really wanted to make sure it was a strike first because the pitch was pretty down the middle. And then he swung, so I was like, ‘All right, let’s make sure we get the strike’ in a 2-2 count and then the ball just kind of took me that way, but I’ll mix it up with both.”
That throw, plus Susac’s overall defensive presence behind the plate as the backup to two-time Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey , has been clear to the Giants since they acquired him in a Rule 5 Draft day trade with the Minnesota Twins this offseason.
“It’s been outstanding since spring training, he can throw from a lot of different angles, almost like an infielder, can throw from his knees,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said of Susac postgame. “[One] didn’t count because we struck the hitter out with two [outs], but even that one was impressive. So he certainly gives us a great option back there, not just defensively, but his at-bats are always just competitive.”
Not only did Susac contribute defensively, but he drove in San Francisco ’s first — and for most of the game — only run on Sunday before Casey Schmitt ’s solo home run in the top of the ninth.
Susac has been so impactful offensively, that Vitello called on him to pinch-hit against Orioles star closer Ryan Helsley in the top of the ninth inning of Saturday’s 6-2 loss to Baltimore.
“It was definitely a big situation, so I had a good amount of adrenaline,” Susac admitted when asked about pinch-hitting. “But pretty comfortable. Obviously a great pitcher. Got me out of my plan a little bit, sped me up, that’s probably why he’s good at what he does, but it’s nice to get the first one under the belt so that next time I can slow the situation down a little bit.”
As Susac continues to find ways to contribute, the Giants owe it to themselves to continue to find ways to get him involved .
