Rookie catcher Daniel Susac could force uncomfortable Giants conversation

SAN FRANCISCO — Let’s get this out of the way first: It is far too early, and way too small of a sample size to be making any drastic moves.That’s not where the Daniel Susac conversation is going … yet. The Giants’ rookie catcher is off to a scorching-hot and historic start to his MLB career, recording six hits in seven at-bats with a walk in two games, including three hits and two RBI in San Francisco’s 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday at Oracle Park. “It’s nice, it’s always nice to know how you stack up against some of the best in the game,” Susac said postgame of his second consecutive three-hit game. “Obviously a guy like [Phillies pitcher Cristopher] Sanchez, had a lot of success, really good pitcher, being able to work some good at-bats off him is a good confidence boost.” In Susac’s two games this 2026 MLB season, the stark contrast between his and starter Patrick Bailey’s offensive production, so far, could not be more clear. The incumbent, a two-time reigning Gold Glove award-winner who is one of the more valuable players in baseball, just on defense alone, has been ice-cold at the plate so far this season, recording just four hits in 31 at-bats (.129 average) with one RBI and three walks. However, the same logic and metaphorical cold water that could be poured on the early Susac hype can be, inversely, applied to Bailey as well. It’s early. The offensive trajectory of both players can change at a moment’s notice. But that doesn’t mean the Giants should ignore what they likely already know: Bailey, despite his incredible impact defensively, and the handful of clutch moments at the plate, is a below-average major-league hitter. Susac — once again, very early on — appears to have a higher ceiling offensively. Yes, it’s a small sample size, but even the eye test will tell you that his short, compact swing and consistent opposite-field approach will play at the major-league level. To what degree? It’s unclear, but San Francisco owes it to itself to find out, and it appears it will. “I think he’s obviously earned the right to — I think prior to today, I think he’s earned the right to be out there for us more often, and I think it would be good for both those guys, I think they’ve got a good friendship and also a good working relationship,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said postgame. “At that position, my experience [so far] has been it’s always two guys. In recruiting it’s always been these two guys because at the end of the season, whoever it is you lean on the most if you don’t go matchups with a pitcher, either your own or the opposing pitcher, your other guy is going to be more fresh. It’s not an easy thing to go out there all the time … you’ll be seeing plenty of both guys as the season goes on.” Tony Vitello addresses Daniel Susac's hot start and the catcher's role moving forward pic.twitter.com/vHUkuJonNU — SF Giants on NBCS (&commat;NBCSGiants) April 8, 2026 Vitello brings up an excellent point, in that the more playing time Susac gets, the fresher Bailey will be for the entire season. That could be exactly what Bailey needs after he, admittedly, has ran out of gas in the second half of recent seasons. Unfortunately for the Giants, Susac, outside of 16 combined innings at first base in two games in Double-A and the Arizona Fall league, does not have experience at any other positions, which means his most likely path to consistent playing time either is through a platoon with Bailey or designated-hitter at-bats. Or some combination of both. The former, based on Vitello’s comments pre- and postgame, seems more likely. “I’m a fan of everybody getting involved, to be honest with you,” Vitello said pregame when asked if he is a fan of platoons. “At every level. Spring training is fun that way, you can get creative and find different ways to get guys involved in the game and try and balance things out. I think, this day and age, it’s a blessing too to have guys that are in warrior mode mentality-wise that they want to be out there every day. “I know Patty said it before I even got hired, he wants to lead the league in games caught this year. Last year he was called upon a lot to come off the bench and never complained about doing so, and immediately told me the other night ‘Just let me know if you need me’ when Susac started.”What would a potential Bailey-Susac platoon look like? In 2025, Bailey appeared in 135 total games and started 114 of them. The combination of backups Andrew Knizner, Sam Huff and Logan Porter started a combined 49 games, with all three failing to provide the Giants with any offensive upside. Susac appears to be different, and it should come as no surprise, given he was a first-round pick by the Athletics in 2022 and batted .275/.349/.483 with 18 home runs and 68 RBI in 407 plate appearances for Triple-A Las Vegas Last season before he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 Draft this winter and immediately traded to San Francisco, where he became the clear and obvious backup to Bailey.Now, he appears to be in position to earn a much bigger role. It’s unclear what the immediate future holds for two former first-round catchers, but whatever the solution is at the position, this is a good problem for the Giants to have. Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Rookie catcher Daniel Susac could force uncomfortable Giants conversation

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