Andrew Susac

ANDREW SUSAC, CATCHER
Born: March 22, 1990
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 215
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 2nd Round, 86th Overall, 2011 (Giants)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
College: Oregon State University
Agent: The Legacy Agency

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

The Giants drafted Susac as a sophomore eligible, with his power potential being the biggest attraction.  He had a long swing and a big leg kick, so there was concern about strikeouts.  As a pro he has, in fact, struggled to make contact.  He put up some very high walk totals in the minors and has had a decent walk rate in his limited major league action.  He’s hit for solid power at times, but he’s been plagued by thumb, wrist and, in college, hamate injuries, missing considerable time.  He hasn’t reached 200 ABs in a season since 2016 and last reached 300 (barely) in 2014.  He wasn’t regarded well defensively when he was drafted, but has a good arm and has done reasonably well at controlling the running game.  His pitch framing seems to be about average, although there isn’t much data yet.  The Pirates signed Susac to a minor league deal for 2020.

2012
A+:  244/351/380, 361 AB, 16 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 55 BB, 100 K, 1-2 SB

Susac signed too late to play in 2011 and, after a strong showing in fall instructionals, the Giants sent him to high A to start his career.  His hitting there was disappointing, especially considering he was in the high-offense California League.  He had problems with strikeouts and didn’t hit for great power.  He also had error issues, committing 14, but he did throw out 32% of base stealers.  Baseball America rated him 13th in a weak Giants’ system after the season.

2013
AA:  256/362/458, 262 AB, 17 2B, 12 HR, 42 BB, 68 K, 1-1 SB

In AA, Susac started showing the power the Giants had expected, although a thumb injury ended his season a month early.  He continued drawing walks and cut his K rate a little.  He threw out 40% of base stealers.  BA rated him 11th in the system.

2014
AAA:  268/379/451, 213 AB, 9 2B, 10 HR, 34 BB, 50 K
MLB:  273/326/466, 88 AB, 8 2B, 3 HR, 7 BB, 28 K

Susac got off to a good start in AAA and the Giants called him up in late July when their backup catcher got hurt.  He played behind Buster Posey the rest of the year and hit well, although he struck out a lot.  BA rated him the Giants’ top prospect after the season.

2015
A+:  286/375/571, 14 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 4 K
AAA:  321/406/536, 28 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 10 K
MLB:  218/297/368, 133 AB, 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 14 BB, 43 K

The Giants sent Susac back to AAA after he suffered a wrist injury, but called him up in mid-April.  He spent much of the rest of the year backing up Posey, but also had further injury problems.  He missed a month starting in mid-July with a sprained thumb.  In September he was shut down due to continued problems with his wrist and eventually had surgery.  He hit for decent power in the majors, but struggled to make contact, with the wrist problems possibly having an impact.

2016
A+ (SF):  364/417/455, 11 AB, 1 2B, 1 BB, 4 K
AAA (SF):  273/343/455, 209 AB, 12 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 24 BB, 45 K
AAA (Mil):  125/163/150, 40 AB, 1 2B, 2 BB, 16 K
MLB (Mil):  235/316/471, 17 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K

After he had trouble with his wrist in spring training, the Giants sent Susac to AAA to start the season.  He stayed there until the beginning of August, apart from a month starting in late April, when the wrist kept him out.  On August 1, the Giants traded him to the Brewers to get Will Smith.  Milwaukee called Susac up in September and he hit reasonably well.

2017
A:  429/500/857, 7 AB, 1 HR, 1 BB
AAA:  205/307/404, 171 AB, 10 2B, 8 HR, 26 BB, 53 K
MLB:  083/083/083, 12 AB, 6 K

The Brewers sent Susac to AAA and called him up only briefly in August.  He also came up in September, but saw only pinch-hitting duty.  He missed time in April and August with a muscle strain.  In AAA, he didn’t hit well, especially considering he was with Colorado Springs.  After the season, the Brewers traded him to Baltimore in a cash transaction.

2018
AAA:  256/405/456, 125 AB, 7 2B, 6 HR, 31 BB, 42 K
MLB:  115/115/154, 26 AB, 1 2B, 12 K

Other than a two-week callup in May, the Orioles kept Susac in AAA.  He season was cut short, though, by a fractured wrist in late July.  He hit well in AAA, with very high walk and K rates.  The Orioles outrighted Susac to AAA in the offseason.

2019
AAA:  234/366/442, 77 AB, 4 2B, 4 HR, 14 BB, 24 K, 3-5 SB

Baltimore sent Susac to the Royals for cash at the end of spring training.  Kansas City assigned him to AAA, but his season was once again cut short, this time in May by a broken wrist.  For some reason, after not attempting a steal at any level for six years, he more than doubled his career total of steals and attempts.  He became a free agent after the season.

Susac will be in camp on a non-roster invitation and will have a chance to compete for the backup catching job with Luke Maile and John Ryan Murphy.  If healthy, he seems to have more upside with the bat than they do, but he’s not as well regarded defensively.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2017: $537,400
2020: Minor league salary
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $1,100,000
MiLB Debut: 2012
MLB Debut: 7/26/2014
MiLB FA Eligible: 2020
MLB FA Eligible: 2023
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: 7/26/2014 (since removed)
Options Remaining: 0 (USED:  2016, 2017, 2018)
MLB Service Time: 2.009
TRANSACTIONS
June 11, 2009: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 16th round, 497th overall pick.
June 7, 2011: Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 2nd round, 86th overall pick; signed on August 15.
July 26, 2014: Contract purchased by the San Francisco Giants.
August 1, 2016: Traded by the San Francisco Giants with Phil Bickford to the Milwaukee Brewers for Will Smith.
January 20, 2018: Designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers.
February 2, 2018: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations.
January 11, 2019: Designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles; outrighted to AAA on January 17.
April 2, 2019: Traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations.
November 4, 2019: Became a free agent.
January 31, 2020: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent.