SAN FRANCISCO — Daniel Susac had fond memories at Oracle Park well before becoming a Giant.
Back when the ballpark at 24 Willie Mays Plaza was called AT&T Park, Susac’s older brother, Andrew, played two seasons for the Giants in 2014 and 2015. Daniel enjoyed the privileges that came with having an older brother in the majors. He remembers running around San Francisco’s clubhouse. He remembers watching as many games as possible. He remembers Travis Ishikawa hitting the walk-off home run that sent the Giants to the World Series.
On Thursday evening, the roles were reversed. Daniel made memories of his own, and Andrew and company had the privilege of watching from the stands.
Following his debut on Wednesday as a defensive replacement, Daniel Susac left his imprint all over the Giants’ 7-2 win over the New York Mets in his first career start. At the plate, he reached base in all four plate appearances, collecting three hits and a walk. Behind the plate, he successfully challenged a pitch to turn ball four into strike three.
“I definitely always envisioned it as a little kid, but to actually live it out was pretty awesome,” Susac said. “I probably went through this exact scenario so many times in the backyard with my brothers.”
San Francisco Giants catcher Daniel Susac #6 congratulates relief pitcher Blade Tidwell #46 after their 7-2 MLB win against the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Susac collected his fair share of memorabilia by night’s end, a list that includes his first hit, the Giants’ lineup card and the umpire’s lineup card. Susac also held onto the ball after right-hander Blade Tidwell struck out Mark Vientos to record a three-inning save, the first of his career. Tidwell, though, didn’t know he’d recorded a save since the Giants were up by five runs.
Upon returning to the clubhouse, Susac and Tidwell both hopped into separate laundry carts and experienced the ceremonial beer shower to commemorate their respective accomplishments. It marks the Giants’ third such celebration in the last four days, the other alcohol-related storm being when rookie manager Tony Vitello recorded his first managerial win on Monday.
Along with Susac and Tidwell, infielder Casey Schmitt rebounded from a forgettable, tense Wednesday afternoon by reaching base four times (three singles, one walk) and making a leaping snag in the top of the eighth inning to kickstart an unassisted double play. Rafael Devers hit his first home run of the season, an opposite-field shot that barely cleared the left-center field fence, while Robbie Ray recorded his first win of the year.
San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 hits a solo home run off New York Mets relief pitcher Sean Manaea #59 in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. It was his first home run of the season. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Seemingly the only person wearing a Giants jersey on Thursday night who didn’t enjoy the game was Susac’s nephew, who was caught crying after he recorded his third and final hit of the night.
“(My nephew) was excited to see me, though,” Susac said.
Susac nearly took his first at-bat in the top of the ninth inning on Wednesday against All-Star reliever Mason Miller, but the rookie ended up stranded in the on-deck circle as Miller finished off the Padres’ 7-1 win. In retrospect, it was for the best.
Instead of facing the game’s best closer, Susac’s first at-bat came in the bottom of the second against the Mets’ David Peterson. Peterson started Susac with a first-pitch curveball, an offering that Susac flipped into right field for the first hit of his career. The Susac family, seated in the lower bowl, instantly erupted in jubilation.
“I was a little surprised about a first-pitch curveball,” Susac said. “I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to get a first-pitch heater, I’m going to hammer it.’ I saw it mid air and I was like, ‘Uh oh.’ I just put a good swing on it. … I was talking to a couple of guys today, and I was like, ‘I’m going to get a first-pitch hit to right.’ So, I guess I was right on that.”
Peterson tried a different gambit in his second meeting with Susac, starting the rookie off with a first-pitch four-seam fastball. Different pitch, same result. Susac pulled the heater into left field past a diving Francisco Lindor, and he had his second hit of the night.
New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson #23 throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Susac didn’t record another hit in his third plate appearance of the night, but that’s because former Giant Sean Manaea walked him on four straight balls. Manaea got ahead in the count, 1-2, when the two met in the bottom of the seventh, but Susac turned a middle-middle fastball into his third hit of the night.
In recording three hits and a walk, Susac became the first Giant to reach base four times in his first career game (with a plate appearance) since Kevin Frandsen in 2006.
“It’s a great feeling for him,” said Ray, who allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts. “Everybody’s excited. Everybody’s in the dugout cheering and just super fired up for him. You only get one first debut, so just happy it went so well for him.”
Susac’s impact wasn’t limited to the offensive side of the game. In the top of the sixth, Ryan Walker, making a surprising appearance in the middle innings, fired a 3-2 sinker low-and-away to the Mets’ Luis Robert Jr. that was called a ball. Susac challenged the call, and Oracle Park’s scoreboard provided the good news: a strike by mere inches.
“I try to speak candidly with you all … but I don’t like just saying stuff just to say it. I think the guy can be a weapon for us,” Vitello said. “I wouldn’t say that unless people smarter than me said it. If I didn’t believe in it with my whole heart, I wouldn’t say it either. I think he’ll keep getting better as the year goes on.
“Not every night is going to feel like it’s easy for him, but tonight was a guy getting what he deserved.”
San Francisco Giants catcher Daniel Susac #6 is congratulated by shortstop Willy Adames #2 after their 7-2 MLB win against the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Mark Vientos #27 fouls off a pitch by San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Blade Tidwell #46 as catcher Daniel Susac #6 reaches for the ball in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Blade Tidwell #46 reacts after striking out New York Mets’ Mark Vientos #27 to end the game with a 7-2 win at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez #1 completes a double play to first base as New York Mets’ Marcus Semien #10 is forced out in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets relief pitcher Sean Manaea #59 reacts as San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Blade Tidwell #46 throws against the New York Mets in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray #38 is taken out in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee #51 loses his helmet as he takes a swing in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello reacts from the dugout in the sixth inning of their MLB game against the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets relief pitcher Sean Manaea #59 throws against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee #51 is safe at first base after a throwing error by New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson #23 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants first baseman Casey Schmitt #10 guards the bag as New York Mets’ Luis Robert Jr. #88 takes a big lead second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Susac became the first Giant to reach base four times in his first career game with a plate appearance since Kevin Frandsen in 2006. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman #26 hits an RBI double off New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson #23 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman #26 calls timeout after hitting an RBI double off New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson #23 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Luis Arraez #1 hits an RBI triple off New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson #23 in the first inning of their MLB game against the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 is forced out as New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien #10 makes the throw to first base but doesn’t complete the double play in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray #38 throws against the New York Mets in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Juan Soto #22 is congratulated by teammate Luis Robert Jr. #88 after scoring on an RBI double by New York Mets’ Bo Bichette #19 in the first inning of their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Juan Soto #22 scores past San Francisco Giants catcher Daniel Susac #6 on an RBI double by New York Mets’ Bo Bichette #19 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Bo Bichette #19 hits an RBI double off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray #38 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos #17 is congratulated by Matt Chapman #26 after scoring on a triple by Luis Arraez #1 in the first inning of their MLB game against the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray #38 throws against the New York Mets in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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San Francisco Giants catcher Daniel Susac #6 is congratulated by shortstop Willy Adames #2 after their 7-2 MLB win against the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)