ORLANDO, Fla. — Andrew Susac served as Buster Posey’s backup catcher more than a decade ago. Now, Susac’s younger brother will have his own opportunity to become a backup catcher in San Francisco.
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.
“I think he’s a candidate (for backup catcher),” general manager Zack Minasian said. “Obviously, he’s 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’re excited about where our catching depth is with him.”
San Francisco’s 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.
As a Rule 5 Draft pick, Susac will be assigned directly to the Giants’ 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’s (they would pay back $50,000 of the $100,000 selection fee) or designate him for assignment.
Susac, 24, was selected in the first round (19th overall) by Oakland in the 2022 MLB draft. Last season, Susac had a .275 batting average, .832 OPS and 94 wRC+ 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.
He is a “plus defender behind the plate,” Minasian said of Susac, a Roseville native. “Power, history with him back to high school through the draft. Bay Area ties. It’s a position of need — we’re always looking to build depth. Still young, still upside, so a lot of positives, a lot of boxes checked. We’re excited to give him this opportunity.”
Added Minasian: “All the reports that we have is he’s continued to improve as a defender and as an offensive player. Still feel like he’s trending to becoming a better and better player.”
Jesus Rodriguez, acquired in the July trade that sent Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees, had been the favorite to be two-time Gold Glover Patrick Bailey’s backup catcher after Andrew Knizner was non-tendered.
Rodriguez, 23, has a career .309 batting average and .848 OPS over six seasons in the minors, but he’s only caught 172 games. He caught 15 games with Triple-A Sacramento after joining the organization, and he spent the final days of the 2025 season on the Giants’ taxi squad to be around the team.
“We’re excited about him,” catching coach Alex Burg said in September. “This is his first year catching a ton, so it’s exciting to have him back there. You see the arm, the arm is impressive. He can really throw. It’s quick and has really good carry. He has a chance to be a truly plus thrower.
“Catching wise, it’s getting there. It’s much better than I expected. We got him out there today and it’s fun to see. He’s a worker, which I love. He’s willing to listen, willing to learn, wants to get better. All those things are super exciting for us and for the organization.”
Additionally, San Francisco lost two players in the major-league portion of the draft. The Athletics selected right-hander Ryan Watson with the sixth overall pick, and the Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-hander Spencer Miles with the 10th overall pick.
Miles, 25, was one of the more fascinating prospects that the Giants left unprotected.
The right-hander was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 draft but hasn’t pitched above Low-A and only has 14 2/3 minor-league innings under his belt. Miles didn’t pitch in the ’25 regular season but impressed in the Arizona Fall League. Minasian said he was “a little bit” surprised that Miles was taken given his lack of innings.
In the minor-league portion of the draft, the Giants lost five players: outfielder Carter Howell (Braves) and right-handers Junior Flores (Pirates), Ryan Murphy (Cardinals), Jan Caraballo (Tigers) and Evan Gates (Phillies). They did not make any selections.
