Daniel Susac’s big league dream became reality in spectacular fashion Thursday night at Oracle Park, as the 24-year-old catcher delivered a debut for the ages in the San Francisco Giants’ 7-2 victory over the New York Mets. With his family cheering from the stands and his fiancée’s prediction ringing in his ears, Susac reached base four times—including three singles and a walk—in his very first Major League Baseball start. The night was filled with emotion, history, and a few surprises that left even the most seasoned Giants fans shaking their heads in disbelief.
Susac’s journey to this moment began long before he stepped into the batter’s box against Mets left-hander David Peterson. A native of Roseville, California, just a couple of hours from San Francisco, Daniel grew up visiting Oracle Park with his family, watching his older brother Andrew play part of his own six-year MLB career as a backup to Buster Posey. “I definitely always envisioned it as a little kid, but to actually live it out was awesome,” Daniel told reporters after the game. “I probably went through this exact scenario so many times in the backyard with my brothers, so it was a pretty fun one altogether.”
On this night, Susac made his mark immediately. In the bottom of the second inning, he laced a first-pitch curveball from Peterson into right field for his first major league hit. The Oracle Park crowd erupted, but no section was louder than the Susac family, perched just beside the press box. “So nerve-wracking,” Susac’s fiancée Drew Koltko told MLB.com. “But I told him from the first time that we got here, he’s going to get a hit in his first at-bat. … He did that [the ABS challenge] in Triple-A all the time last year, so he was pretty familiar with it, but seeing it in a big league stadium is just surreal.”
Susac wasn’t finished. He followed up with another single in the third inning, then drew a four-pitch walk in the fifth, and capped his night with a single to center in the seventh. Along the way, he became the first Giant since Kevin Frandsen in 2006 to reach base safely four times in his first career start—a feat that puts him among rare company in franchise history.
There was even a bit of baseball trivia wrapped up in Susac’s performance. With his first hit, Daniel joined his brother Andrew as part of an exclusive group: the sixth brother duo since 1961 to each notch a hit in their first MLB plate appearance. The list includes such names as Henry and Heliot Ramos, Willson and William Contreras, Jhonatan and Donovan Solano, Chris and Pat Valaika, and Mickey and Rick Mahler. For the Susac family, the moment was as much about legacy as it was about the box score.
The family’s presence was unmistakable throughout the night. Cameras captured the emotional reactions of Daniel’s nephew, Chuck, who became an unexpected social media star as he alternated between tears and cheers in the stands. “We’re all saying in our family group chat right now we have to get that kid an agent,” Koltko joked, as the Susac clan’s celebration became a story of its own.
Andrew Susac, 11 years Daniel’s senior, reflected on the full-circle nature of the night. “Growing up at the stadium, running around in the tunnels like I’m doing with my kids now. My kids are now living through him, which is cool for me. My son Luke is 5 and Jack is 2, they’re down in the tunnels right now running around.” The family’s connection to Oracle Park, forged over years of baseball memories, was stronger than ever.
Manager Tony Vitello, who handed Susac his first start after a strong showing in spring training, praised the rookie’s poise and preparation. “I know he was a little unsure about whether the challenge was going to work in his favor, but it ended up being a huge deal in the game,” Vitello said, referencing Susac’s successful use of the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system in the sixth inning. “Overall, he just looked relaxed, he looked like he was built for the moment. And I don't think that happens by accident. I have been around people where they're kind of blessed with an innate sense of being calm in moments like that.”
Susac’s composure extended beyond his at-bats. After the game, he received the team’s lineup card, which he promptly handed to his father as a keepsake. The game ball, however, went to right-hander Blade Tidwell, who also enjoyed a milestone night by earning his first career save. Called up from Triple-A earlier that day after José Buttó was placed on the 15-day injured list, Tidwell navigated the final three innings without allowing a run. The only problem? He didn’t realize he had just notched a save.
“I'm walking out there, I'm like, congrats, man, first save,” Susac recalled with a grin. “And he's like, ‘What do you mean?’ I was like, ‘Your first save!’ He goes, ‘We're up by five.’ I’m like, ‘You went three innings.’ ‘What does that mean?’ I was like, ‘It's your first save.’ He didn't know it until after the game, but it was cool to experience that with him.”
The postgame celebration was as raucous as the action on the field. Susac and Tidwell were doused in beer showers and, according to Susac, “all types of liquids and condiments—some that made Tidwell queasy, as ‘I don’t like sauces,’ he explained.” The duo reportedly took “eight showers each to get rid of it,” a fitting end to a night neither will soon forget.
Of course, the Giants’ victory wasn’t just about individual milestones. The 7-2 win over the Mets demonstrated the team’s depth and resilience, with Patrick Bailey still entrenched as the starting catcher but Susac proving he’s more than ready for the big stage. While Susac’s playing time may be limited moving forward, he’s already left an indelible mark on the 2026 season and given fans—and his family—a night to remember.
As the sun set on Oracle Park, the cheers of the Susac family still echoed through the stands. For Daniel Susac, his first MLB start was more than just a game; it was a dream fulfilled, a family tradition continued, and perhaps the start of something even bigger for the Giants’ newest catcher.