ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 Andrew Susac served as Buster Posey\u2019s backup catcher more than a decade ago. Now, Susac\u2019s younger brother will have his own opportunity to become a backup catcher in San Francisco.<\/p>\n
The Giants acquired Daniel Susac on Wednesday from the Minnesota Twins for catcher Miguel Caraballo and cash considerations. Susac was initially selected by the Twins from the Athletics with the fourth overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s a candidate (for backup catcher),\u201d general manager Zack Minasian said. \u201cObviously, he\u2019s going to have to come in and earn it, but to take him shows what we think of him and definitely see him as a really strong candidate. We\u2019re excited about where our catching depth is with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
San Francisco\u2019s last Rule 5 Draft pick was catcher\/outfielder Blake Sabol, who hit .243 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs in 121 games over two seasons. Sabol, like Susac, was originally selected by another team (Cincinnati Reds) during the Rule 5 Draft before being traded to the Giants.<\/p>\n
As a Rule 5 Draft pick, Susac will be assigned directly to the Giants\u2019 26-man roster and must stay on the roster for the entire season. If San Francisco wants to remove him from the 26-man roster, the team must offer him back to the A\u2019s (they would pay back $50,000 of the $100,000 selection fee) or designate him for assignment.<\/p>\n
Susac, 24, was selected in the first round<\/a> (19th overall) by Oakland in the 2022 MLB draft. Last season, Susac had a .275 batting average, .832 OPS and 94 wRC+<\/a> with 18 home runs over 97 games in Triple-A. The Athletics elected to leave Susac unprotected since the team already had Shea Langeliers and former Giant Austin Wynns on the 40-man roster.<\/p>\n He is a \u201cplus defender behind the plate,\u201d Minasian said of Susac, a Roseville native. \u201cPower, history with him back to high school through the draft. Bay Area ties. It\u2019s a position of need \u2014 we\u2019re always looking to build depth. Still young, still upside, so a lot of positives, a lot of boxes checked. We\u2019re excited to give him this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Minasian: \u201cAll the reports that we have is he\u2019s continued to improve as a defender and as an offensive player. Still feel like he\u2019s trending to becoming a better and better player.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus Rodriguez, acquired in the July trade that sent Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees<\/a>, had been the favorite to be two-time Gold Glover<\/a> Patrick Bailey\u2019s backup catcher after Andrew Knizner was non-tendered.<\/p>\n