Ranking the three backstops vying to win the SF Giants backup catcher job

The SF Giants know that Patrick Bailey will enter the season as the starting catcher. Who will be his backup? We ranked the top three candidates.

Ranking the three backstops vying to win the SF Giants backup catcher job

1. Daniel Susac

The Giants acquired Daniel Susac in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins had selected him in the Rule 5 draft, so he is still bound to those rules. Earlier in the offseason, the Giants tried to swing a trade with the A’s to acquire the young backstop.

Of course, Susac is the younger brother of former Giants backstop Andrew Susac. Given that Susac is a Rule 5 pick, he should see a good bit of playing time this spring. 

Across four minor league seasons, the right-handed bat has posted a .785 OPS. This includes hitting .275/.349/.483 (94 wRC+) with 18 home runs, 68 RBI, and 48 runs in 407 plate appearances at Triple-A last season.

Susac has a below-average hit tool but hits with enough power to generate some offensive value as a backup catcher.

The 24-year-old is arguably the best defender among those competing for the backup role. He is a quality receiver with a solid arm. He will still need to perform this spring, but the fact that he is a Rule 5 pick gives him a leg up in the competition.

2. Eric Haase

Eric Haase has a good bit of major league experience. If he does not make the team, there is a possibility that his contract includes an opt-out to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Haase’s profile leans more as a bat-first option. This includes hitting 22 home runs for the Detroit Tigers in 2021. 

The right-handed hitter has a career .725 OPS against southpaw pitchers. His ability to hit in these matchups might help his case for making the team, as the Giants will likely want to limit Patrick Bailey’s exposure against left-handed pitching going forward.

Haase is a below-average framer and blocker. He does have a strong, with a quick pop time.

3. Jesús Rodríguez

The Giants view Jesús Rodríguez’s defense as a work in progress. When they acquired him in a five-player trade with the New York Yankees last summer, he had been splitting time at catcher, first base, and third base.

There’s is no avenue to playing time at the corner infield spots, but the Giants believe that his defense behind the plate can improve with more reps. If they commit to that idea, he could see the bulk of time at catcher in Triple-A this year. In that scenario, it would be hard to imagine Eric Haase staying in the organization, as there is always a need for catching around baseball.

The Giants like Rodríguez’s offensive profile. He has an .848 OPS, including a .309 batting average, across six minor league seasons. Rodríguez has good bat-to-ball skills and a swing that sprays the ball to all fields.