The San Francisco Giants bounced back on Tuesday night, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 at Oracle Park behind a dominant pitching performance from Robbie Ray. The bullpen held. The offense delivered.
And Daniel Susac did it again.
The Giants‘ rookie catcher recorded three hits and two RBI in Tuesday’s win, his second consecutive three-hit game to open his MLB career. Six hits in seven at-bats across two games. The numbers are impossible to ignore, and manager Tony Vitello is not trying to.
What Susac Said After Another Historic Night
GettyDaniel Susac of the San Francisco Giants hits a triple against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Susac was measured in his postgame comments, keeping the focus on the quality of competition he had been facing rather than his own production.
“It’s nice, it’s always nice to know how you stack up against some of the best in the game,” Susac said. “Obviously a guy like Sanchez, had a lot of success, really good pitcher, being able to work some good at-bats off him is a good confidence boost.”
The humility is notable for a player who is putting up numbers no Giants catcher has produced in fifty years. According to OptaStats, Susac became the first catcher with three or more hits and a walk in his first career start since Mike Piazza in 1992, and has now reached base four times without making an out across his first two games.
The eye test reinforces the numbers. His short, compact swing and consistent opposite-field approach are the hallmarks of a hitter built to succeed at the major league level.
The Conversation Vitello Cannot Avoid
GettyGiants manager Tony Vitello.
The elephant in the room is Patrick Bailey. The two-time reigning Gold Glove winner is the incumbent starter and one of the most valuable defensive catchers in baseball. His importance behind the plate is not in question.
At the plate, however, it has been a difficult start. Bailey is hitting just .129 with one RBI through the early weeks of the season. The same caveat applied to Susac’s hot start applies in reverse to Bailey’s cold one. It is early. Things can change quickly.
But the contrast between the two is already drawing attention, and Vitello addressed it directly after Tuesday’s win.
“I think he’s obviously earned the right to be out there for us more often,” Vitello said of Susac. “I think it would be good for both those guys. They’ve got a good friendship and also a good working relationship.”
Vitello also made clear that a two-catcher approach makes sense beyond just the offensive production.
“At that position, my experience has been it’s always two guys,” Vitello said. “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.”
Final Word for the Giants
It is too early to draw firm conclusions. The sample size is small and both players have plenty of season left to establish themselves.
What is not too early is acknowledging what the Giants have in Susac. The production is real. The approach is advanced. The ceiling appears high.
Vitello has a good problem on his hands. How he manages it over the coming weeks could define how this Giants season unfolds.
Giants’ Daniel Susac Drops Notable Quote After Breakout Start