For Daniel Susac, this isn’t just another spring training battle.
It’s personal.
The 24-year-old catcher enters San Francisco Giants camp carrying more than just a mitt and a roster invitation — he carries childhood memories rooted in the franchise’s golden era. Growing up in Roseville, California, Susac didn’t just follow the Giants casually. His older brother, Andrew Susac, was Buster Posey’s backup during the club’s 2014–15 run, giving Daniel a front-row seat to one of the most electric stretches in franchise history.
“My brother was on the team,” Susac said. “Even if I didn’t like them, I had to.”
He attended games. He lived the atmosphere. He remembers Game 5 of the 2014 NLCS vividly — Travis Ishikawa’s unforgettable walk-off home run against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“That was a crazy one,” Susac recalled. “Right when he hit it, we knew it was gone. That was a special moment.”
Now, over a decade later, he’s trying to create his own.
Susac’s path back to the Bay Area wasn’t straightforward. Selected in the Rule 5 Draft by the Minnesota Twins, he was quickly traded to the Giants from the Athletics in exchange for prospect Miguel Caraballo and cash considerations. What could have been a minor transaction suddenly feels like a storybook twist.
The Giants are giving him a legitimate chance to win the backup catcher job behind Gold Glove standout Patrick Bailey.
And he’s coming in hot.
Fresh off a productive 2025 season at Triple-A, Susac showcased real power and improved consistency at the plate. His offensive upside is undeniable. His defense is still developing — but trending upward.
Manager Tony Vitello acknowledged both the promise and the process.
“I think the receiving is good for how long he is,” Vitello said. “I think he’s in a developmental stage, too.”
Translation: the tools are there.
Susac will compete with Jesús Rodríguez and non-roster invitee Eric Haase for the role, but his arm strength and baseball IQ have already drawn attention around camp. Right-hander JT Brubaker — who previously played with Andrew Susac in Pittsburgh — also spoke highly of the young catcher’s pedigree and potential.
Yet beyond metrics and scouting notes, there’s something different about this push.
Susac remembers listening to the Giants clinch the 2014 World Series over the Kansas City Royals on the radio. He remembers the roar. The belief. The magic.
Now he’s trying to become part of it.
“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.”
Simple words.
But in a clubhouse filled with roster battles and spring uncertainty, Susac’s story carries weight. It’s rare that childhood fandom and professional opportunity collide so cleanly.
This isn’t just about earning a backup role.
It’s about closing a circle that started in the stands.
And if he makes the roster, Daniel Susac won’t just be wearing a Giants uniform.
He’ll be living the dream he grew up watching.