San Francisco Giants catcher Daniel Susac stepped onto the field at Sutter Health Park this weekend and felt something most players never experience — the surreal weight of playing pro baseball in the same stadium where he once sat in the stands as a kid. The Giants’ swing through Sacramento for exhibition games against the Athletics gave Susac a chance to return to the ballpark that shaped his love for the game, the home of the Triple-A River Cats where he regularly attended games growing up in the Sacramento area.
Susac, 25, was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 draft this offseason before being immediately traded to San Francisco — a whirlwind sequence that brought him back to Northern California in the most unexpected way. For a player who spent his childhood rooting for the local team from those same seats, the moment carried a significance that goes beyond box scores and stat lines.
Why Susac’s Homecoming Matters
The front office has been quietly building depth behind the plate, and Susac represents exactly the kind of high-character, high-effort player that manager Bob Melvin values in a clubhouse. Susac himself spoke about the unique dynamic of the lineup this season, noting that the best version of the offense is one where there is no single No. 1 guy — where production can come from anywhere in the order on any given night. That selfless approach is exactly what the organization wants to cultivate, and Susac’s attitude has already made an impression on the coaching staff.
Susac was a first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, selected 19th overall by the Oakland Athletics out of the University of Arizona, where he hit .366 with 12 home runs in his draft-eligible season. His path to San Francisco — through the Rule 5 draft and an immediate trade — is unusual but not unprecedented for a player with his defensive profile and offensive upside.
The Rule 5 mechanism requires that Susac remain on the active roster for the entire 2026 season or be offered back to Oakland, which gives the organization a full year to evaluate him at the major league level without burning a 40-man roster spot long-term. That roster pressure creates built-in urgency for both player and club.
Key Developments
- Susac was selected by the Minnesota Twins with the 8th pick in the 2025 Rule 5 draft before being traded to the Giants in a deal that also involved cash considerations
- Sutter Health Park, where the exhibition series was held, is the home of the Sacramento River Cats, the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, and the same ballpark Susac attended games at as a child
- Susac was originally drafted 19th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics out of the University of Arizona, making his return to Northern California a full-circle moment
- Rule 5 rules require Susac to remain on the Giants’ active major league roster for the entire 2026 season, or he must be offered back to the Athletics
What Susac Brings Behind the Plate
The catching situation heading into 2026 has been a patchwork effort, with the team cycling through options while trying to balance offensive production with game-calling ability. Susac’s arrival via the Rule 5 trade gives San Francisco a young, cost-controlled option who still has minor league options remaining for future flexibility.
His defensive metrics in the minors have drawn praise, particularly his pitch framing and ability to handle a pitching staff — two skills that matter enormously in a league where catcher defense is increasingly valued by analytics departments. According to Baseball America, Susac ranked in the top 15% of minor league catchers in pitch-framing runs saved during his time in the Athletics’ system.
The numbers reveal a player whose glove may carry him early while his bat catches up. From a developmental standpoint, the Giants’ player development staff has a track record of maximizing catcher performance. The organization has historically been strong at refining defensive catchers into well-rounded contributors, and Susac’s raw tools give them plenty to work with. His bat showed flashes in the minors, though consistency against advanced pitching remains the question mark that will determine whether he becomes a long-term starter or a valuable backup.
What’s Next for Susac
The immediate future is straightforward — Susac needs to prove he belongs on a major league roster every day, knowing that one trip to the injured list could complicate his Rule 5 status. For the Giants, the exhibition series in Sacramento served as a useful early-season tune-up, and his presence in the lineup gives Melvin another option to rotate behind the plate during the grind of a 162-game season.
San Francisco is in the thick of the NL West race, and every roster spot matters when the division is as competitive as it has been this year. Beyond the roster mechanics, Susac’s story is a reminder of how small the baseball world can be. A kid from Sacramento who grew up watching the River Cats — the Giants’ own affiliate — is now wearing the same uniform and playing in the same stadium, just from the other side of the dugout.
If Susac can stick and contribute meaningfully, his path from Sacramento fan to Giant will be one of the better feel-good stories of the 2026 season.
How did Daniel Susac join the San Francisco Giants?
Daniel Susac was selected by the Minnesota Twins with the 8th pick in the 2025 Rule 5 draft and was immediately traded to the San Francisco Giants. The trade brought the Sacramento-area native back to Northern California, where he had grown up attending games at the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate ballpark.
What are the Rule 5 draft requirements for Susac?
Under Rule 5 draft rules, Susac must remain on the Giants’ active major league roster for the entire 2026 season. If the Giants remove him from the active roster at any point, he must be offered back to the Oakland Athletics, the team that originally drafted him in 2022.
Where did Daniel Susac grow up and play college baseball?
Daniel Susac grew up in the Sacramento, California area and regularly attended River Cats games at Sutter Health Park as a child. He played college baseball at the University of Arizona, where he hit .366 with 12 home runs in his draft-eligible season before being selected 19th overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2022 MLB Draft.
What did Susac say about the Giants’ lineup potential?
Susac noted that the best version of a long-season offense is one where there is no single No. 1 guy — where production can come from anywhere in the order on any given night. He emphasized that the Giants have the potential to have a really fun lineup with that kind of depth and unpredictability.
