Daniel Shawn Susac (born May 14, 2001) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Oakland Athletics organization.
Daniel Susac | |
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Susac with Arizona in 2022
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Oakland Athletics – No. 73 | |
Catcher | |
Born: (2001-05-14) May 14, 2001 (age 23) Roseville, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Susac attended Jesuit High SchoolinCarmichael, California, a suburb of Sacramento, where he played football and baseball.[1][2] As a junior in 2019, he hit .378.[3] He played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball GameatWrigley Field that summer.[4] His senior season in 2020 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] He originally committed to play college baseballatOregon State University, but switched his commitment to the University of Arizona.[6]
Susac immediately became Arizona's starting catcher as a freshman in 2021, playing in 61 games with sixty being starts.[7]Heslashed .335/.383/.591 with 12 home runs, 64 RBIs, and 24 doubles, earning the title of Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year as well as being named All-Conference and to the All-Defensive Team.[8] He was selected to play for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team that summer.[9] He also played for the Lincoln Potters of the California Collegiate League.[10] Susac returned as Arizona's starting catcher in 2022 and entered the season as a top prospect for the upcoming draft.[11][12] On March 14, 2022, he was named the National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper as well as Pac-12 Player of the Week after he batted .526 with three home runs and 11 RBIs over four games.[13] He finished the season having appeared in 64 games, compiling a .366/.430/.582 slash line with 12 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 100 hits.[14] Following the season's end, he traveled to San Diego where he participated in the Draft Combine.[15]
Susac was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round with the 19th overall selection of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.[16] He signed with the team for $3.5 million.[17]
Susac made his professional debut with the Arizona Complex League Athletics and was promoted to the Stockton Ports after two games.[18] Over 27 games between both teams, he batted .298 with one home run and 15 RBIs.[19] Susac opened the 2023 season with the Lansing Lugnuts.[20] He was promoted to the Midland RockHounds in late August.[21] Over 112 games between the two teams, he slashed .300/.365/.428 with eight home runs and 62 RBIs.[22]
Susac's older brother, Andrew, has played six seasons of Major League Baseball.[23] His cousin, Anthony, also plays on the Arizona baseball team.[24]