Giants lose Daniel Susac to patella fracture as catcher depth hits critical level

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San Francisco Giants catcher Daniel Susac (6) is checked on after he took his foul ball to his left knee while at-bat against the Detroit Tigers in the 5th inning during an MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Sunday, Aug. 09, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle)


This season is just one blow after another for the San Francisco Giants and Monday, the team absorbed the loss of rookie catcher Daniel Susac plus season-ending surgery for third baseman Matt Chapman.

Chapman's surgery, to repair a core-muscle injury, was anticipated, but Susac's loss is a surprise. After fouling a ball off his left knee in the fifth inning Sunday, he remained in and caught two more innings before coming out for a pinch hitter. X-rays initially showed the injury to be a contusion, but Susac was limping heavily in the clubhouse after the game.

An MRI on Monday determined that Susac has a patella fracture, and the Giants are gathering more information about his condition, with Susac scheduled to discuss his prognosis with team doctors later Monday.

In the meantime, Drew Cavanaugh was the only healthy catcher on the roster - or the 40-man roster - Monday afternoon and the Giants were scrambling to find a backup, with infielder Christian Koss the most likely emergency catcher. Triple-A Sacramento catcher Zack Morgan was expected to be added to at least the taxi squad for Monday's game, and the team will be looking for more experienced help.

Rookie catcher Jesus Rodriguez is on the IL with elbow neuritis and isn't throwing yet.

Eric Haase, the veteran backup much of the season, is in the White Sox's system after signing a minor-league deal with Chicago. Should the Giants manage to convince the White Sox to somehow make Haase, 33, available, that might be the most prudent move, given his familiarity with most of the pitching staff. Post-deadline, this might be tricky but occasionally teams will allow a player to depart for a big-league job and players not on the 40-man roster can be dealt.

However, the White Sox need catching help themselves and it's all very Giants-colored: former San Francisco first-round pick Joey Bart is out with a fractured finger after being hit by a pitch by Boston reliever Erik Miller, just dealt from the Giants to the Red Sox.

Other ex-Giant backups Andrew Knizner and Chadwick Tromp, both 31, are free agents. Knizner has not played in the big-leagues since a stint with San Francisco last year; Tromp played in 21 games, combined, with the Braves and Orioles this season. The Blue Jays designated catcher Willie MacIver, 29, on Monday, but the Yankees just signed former Mariners catcher Mitch Garver, released a week ago.

The Giants' lineup looks significantly different right now. They also are without utility player Casey Schmitt (meniscus tear) and traded six players off the big-league roster, including second baseman Luis Arraez and left fielder Heliot Ramos, a week ago.

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This article originally published at Giants lose Daniel Susac to patella fracture as catcher depth hits critical level.

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