Daniel Susac is officially back for the San Francisco Giants, activated off the 10-Day Injured List just hours before they were set to face our Seattle Mariners on Friday night, and his return comes with a massive shift behind the plate. Veteran Eric Haase has been designated for assignment to make room, meaning the Giants are now rolling with three catchers who all started this season with exactly zero MLB experience. Talk about a youth movement!
Susac’s Return and The Lineup Question
Our guys in the Emerald City are facing a very different Giants squad, especially behind the plate. Susac’s return is a big deal, considering he was sidelined in late June with an injury. He had a short, three-game rehab stint down in AAA Sacramento before the All-Star break, and it looked pretty good: he hit 4-11, snagged a home run, a double, and a walk. You’d think that kind of performance, plus a clean bill of health, would put him right into the starting lineup. But nope! For Friday’s game against the Mariners, Drew Cavanaugh, who started the year in AA, got the nod. Susac’s numbers before his injury were definitely rough, hitting just 5-37 with 10 strikeouts in 13 games, dropping his season OPS to .640 and his wRC+ to 80. So while the Giants might have hoped Susac would break out, they’re clearly still figuring things out.
Haase Is Out, And So Is Their Depth
Eric Haase’s departure means a steady veteran presence is gone, though his performance had been seriously struggling. Since June 5, the dude was hitting a brutal 1-35 with 17 strikeouts, and his defense was reportedly pretty poor lately too. The Giants have to decide what to do with Haase while he’s in DFA limbo: maybe a small trade or a minor league re-signing. But here’s the wild part: with Patrick Bailey already traded, and Haase and Logan Porter both designated for assignment, the Giants have basically cleared out their entire catching depth in AAA. Their only catchers down there are now Thomas Gavello and Zach Morgan, late-round draft picks with sub-75 wRC+s. It’s a huge gamble, especially against a team like our Mariners who can really take advantage of inexperience.
A Full-On Rookie Catching Staff
This move completely changes the Giants’ catching dynamic. With Susac back, Cavanaugh getting the start, and fellow rookie Jesús Rodríguez also on the roster, the Giants now have three catchers, all rookies, on their big-league club. None of these guys had a single MLB at-bat before this year! For a team that the source describes as “bad,” this pivot to youth, rather than giving playing time to veterans who won’t be around next year, is a bold statement. They’re clearly looking to the future, even if it leaves them with a super green group behind the plate. Our Mariners are stepping into a series against a team that just completely reshuffled its deck, and it means our pitchers and coaches have to be ready for some serious unknowns when they step up to the plate. This is definitely one to watch as the Giants try to figure out their identity in the second half of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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