One of the oddest events of a season full of odd events was Patrick Bailey's trade to the Cleveland Guardians on May 9 for Matt Wilkinson LHP. It's still not clear why Buster Posey made that trade, but it came after an odd at bat in which a Giants pitcher threw something like 9 straight sliders and subsequent rumors of friction between the coaches and Bailey over calling pitches from the bench. Even odder was word after the trade that Giants pitchers were now allowed to call games themselves and performances noticeably improved. Whatever the case, the Giants catching depth chart went from having a clear #1 to catcher competition which was complicated by injuries to Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodriguez.
MLB:
Daniel Susac: DOB: 5/14/2001. B-R, T-R. 6' 5", 210 lbs. 3 Options, Arb Eligible 2029, Free Agent 3032.
2026(AAA): .464/.545/.821, 2B, 3 HR, 2 SB, 9.1 BB%, 6.1 K%, 33 PA.
2026(MLB): .243/.289/.375, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 2 SB, 5.0 BB%, 22.3 K%, 161 PA.
Drew Cavanaugh: DOB: 1/27/2002. B-L, T-R. 6' 0", 219 lbs. 3 Options, Arb Eligible 2030, Free Agent 2033.
2026(AA): .279/.456/.515, 7 2B, 3 HR, 3 SB, 18.9 BB%, 23.3 K%, 90 PA.
2026(AAA): .311/.449/.550, 9 2B, 6 HR, 13.1 BB%, 24.8 K%, 137 PA.
2026(MLB): .229/.315/.292, 4 2B, 3B, HR, SB, 10.8 BB%, 30.1 K%, 166 PA.
Jesus Rodriguez: DOB: 4/23/2002, B-R, T-R. 5' 10", 201 lbs. 1 Option, Arb Eligible 2030, Free Agent 2033.
2026(AAA): .268/.347/.397, 10 2B, 5 HR, 7 SB, 10.7 BB%, 11.6 K%, 225 PA.
2026(MLB: .235/.316/.412, 3 2B, 2 HR, SB, 8.6 BB%, 13.8 K%, 58 PA.
Andrew Knizner and Zach Morgan are also currently on the 40-man MLB roster. Both will likely be dropped before the deadline to set the roster before the Rule 5 Draft. It appears Susac, Cavanaugh and Rodriguez will compete for 2 of 3 catcher spots on the 2027 Opening Day roster. They all have some positional flexibility so it would not be shocking to see all 3 make it. All things being equal, Cavanaugh will have the edge for playing time due to batting left handed.
AAA:
Adrian Sugastey: DOB: 10/23/2002. B-R, T-R. 6' 0", 213 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible.
2026(ACL): .355/.429/.484, HR, 8.6 BB%, 2.9 K%, 35 PA.
2026(AA): .275/.323/.392, 2 HR, 2 SB, 5.9 BB%, 11.9 K%, 135 PA.
2026(AAA): .289/.355/.422, 3 HR, 8.4 BB%, 9.5 K%, 95 PA.
Fernando Gonzalez: DOB: 12/2/2001. B-R, T-R. 5' 10", 205 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec 2027.
2026(ACL): .364/.563/.818, HR, 25.0 BB%, 6.3 K%, 16 PA.
2026(A): .232/.357/.304, 2 HR, SB, 11.9 BB%, 8.3 K%, 168 PA.
2026(AAA): .280/.438/.480, HR, 17.6 BB%, 32.4 K%, 34 PA.
I could see a team looking for a back up catcher on the cheap grabbing Sugastey in the Rule 5 Draft. Giants don't have enough room on the 40-man roster to protect him. If he is not drafted, he should start the season in AAA and serve as depth for the MLB roster. Gonzalez is listed on the AAA roster but was a late organizational fill-in. He may start next season in A+.
AA:
Jancel Villaroel: DOB: 1/17/2005. B-R, T-R. 5' 8", 202 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible.
2026(A+): .305/.376/.480, 7 HR, 5.6 BB%, 18.2 K%, 198 PA.
2026(AA): .200/.281/.308, 2 HR, 3 SB, 8.7 BB%, 18.8 K%, 138 PA.
Onil Perez: DOB: 9/10/2002. B-R, T-R. 5' 11", 226 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible
2026(A+): .256/.315/.388, 3 HR, 3 SB, 7.0 BB%, 15.4 K%, 143 PA.
2026(AA): .207/.294/.276, 8.8 BB%, 14.7 K%, 34 PA.
Ty Hanchey: DOB: 12/19/1999. B-L, T-R. 5' 9", 195 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible.
2026(A+): .289/341/.526, 2 HR, 4.9 BB%, 31.7 K%, 41 PA.
2026(AA): .246/.335/.374, 4 HR, 10.5 BB%, 29.2 K%, 209 PA.
Villarroel was acquired from the Astros for Kai-Wei Teng in the offseason. He put up strong numbers in A+ before struggling at AA. Ty Hanchey was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Held his own at AA and lefty batting catchers should get extra leash. Onil Perez seems to have hit his ceiling at AA.
A+:
Daniel Rogers: DOB: 12/7/2001. B-L, T-R. 6' 3", 225 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.
2026(A): .275/.393/.549, 4 HR, 13.1 BB%, 24.6 K%, 61 PA.
2026(A+): .233/.333/.345, 2 HR, 13.0 BB%, 33.33 K%, 138 PA.
Charlie Muniz: DOB: 10/25/2001. B-R, T-R. 6' 2", 220 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2029.
2026(Ind): .361/.470/.656, 27 HR, 14.7 BB%, 17.3 K%, 428 PA.
2026(A+): .067/.176/.267, HR, 11.8 BB%, 47.1 K%, 17 PA.
A couple of undrafted free agents from the college class of 2025 with intriguing bats.
A:
Rod Barajas Jr.: DOB: 7/12/2004. B-L, T-R. 6' 3", 225 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.
2026(A): .265/.346/.462, 13 HR, 9.4 BB%, 21.4 K%, 384 PA.
Scott Gell: DOB: 10/23/2004. B-R, T-R. 6' 1", 201 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2029.
2026(College): .303/.377/.447, 3 HR, 7.7 BB%, 10.9 K%, 156 PA.
2026(Smr): .242/.333/.288, 2B, 3B, 10.7 BB%, 38.7 K%, 75 PA.
2026(A): .000/.111/.000, 11.1 BB%, 22.2 K%, 9 PA.
Rod Barajas Jr. is probably the best catching prospect in the system. Big potential in the lefty bat. Gell was signed as an undrafted free agent after the draft.
ACL:
Santiago Camacho: DOB: 1/27/2007. B-S, T-R. 5' 10", 200 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.
2026(ACL): .258/.340/.438, 5 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 11.7 BB%, 20.4 K%, 103 PA.
Yohendry Sanchez: DOB: 11/9/2006. B-R, T-R. 6' 0", 229 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2028.
2026(ACL): .311/.468/.393, 5 2B, 3 SB, 21.5 BB%, 8.9 K%, 79 PA.
Switch-hitting catchers are rare. Fun Fact: Yohendry Sanchez got a bigger signing bonus than Jhonny Level.
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