GameDay: Andrew Susac Realizes Childhood Dream As Giants Head To NLCS
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- When Andrew Susac was in the sixth grade he wrote a story about playing for the Giants. He would, as the story goes, pass Barry Bonds as baseball's all-time home run king.
In the middle of the chaotic clubhouse celebration, I found Susac sipping a beer and he shared his fictitious tale with a curious reporter looking simply to escape the flying champagne.
"I didn't think it was going to come this quick. For my first season, it doesn't get any better than this. A dream come true," said Susac. "Since the day I was in the sixth grade, writing about it in the paper, writing about it at school."
Susac grew up in Roseville, just east of Sacramento. He would go to Giants games at Candlestick and play catch in the parking lot. At home, the glove and the ball were never far from his reach. Neither was his big league story.
Susac became a star at Jesuit High School in Carmichael. His Giants dream was nearly derailed when he was drafted by the Phillies in the 16th round. Fortunately for the Giants, Susac turned down the offer and headed off to Oregon State University to play college ball and get an education.
By 2011, after just his second year with the Beavers, Susac was on the Giants radar and they selected him in the second round, handing him a $1.1 million signing bonus. Three years later, July 26, 2014 to be exact, Susac was called up to the Major Leagues.
His first catching assignment was for 39-year old Tim Hudson who admitted he was pleasantly surprised by how well Susac called the game and mixed up the pitches.
For now, Susac remains the backup to Buster Posey. But with Pablo Sandoval likely leaving for free agency at the end of the year, there is a possibility that Posey could move to third, paving the way for Susac to become the Giants everyday catcher. That's the next chapter.
For today, Susac is living a story he wrote long ago. His regular season ended with three home runs, so passing Barry Bonds might be more fiction than reality.
When I asked Susac about that he said, "I'll take this any day."
So would the Giants.
See you on TV.
