Twins Select Catcher in the Rule 5 Draft, Trade Him to the Giants

[Seth Stohs]

Image courtesy of John Bonnes, Twins Daily/DiamondCentric

Daniel Susac, we hardly knew ye! 

Every year, baseball fans from every organization get excited for the Rule 5 draft, excited about the opportunity to add a young player or fearing the possibility of losing prospects that we have grown to like to other organizations. 

So, how did the 2025 Rule 5 draft affect the Twins? 

The Twins had the #4 selection in the draft and had released Carson McCusker to make room on the 40-man roster in order to be eligible to make a pick. 

The top pick went to the Colorado Rockies. Last year the Chicago White Sox had the top pick and used the top pick and used it to take right-hander Shane Smith from the Brewers. He became an All Star as a rookie. 

With the top pick in 2025’s Rule 5 draft, the Rockies selected 6-8, 300+ pound right-hander RJ Petit from the Tigers.

The White Sox picked second and took Jedixson Paez from the Red Sox 

The Washington Nationals picked third and chose Griff McGarry from the Phillies.

With the fourth pick, the Twins selected catcher Daniel Susac from the Athletics organization. He was the first-round pick (19th overall) of the A's in 2022 out of the University of Arizona. 

Can he stick with the Twins? The Twins do need competition behind Alex Jackson for the job of Ryan Jeffers' backup. Susac spent the 2025 season at Triple-A Las Vegas where in 97 games, he hit .275/.349/.483 (.832) with 19 doubles and 18 home runs.

Oh, but then as often happens in the Rule 5 draft, moments after the selection, the Twins traded Susac to the San Francisco Giants. The Giants front office, led by Buster Posey, reached out to the Twins and the two sides came together on a deal.

Miguel Caraballo signed with the Giants last January out of Venezuela for $172,500. In 41 DSL games, he hit .264/.432/.442 (.874) with four doubles, two triples and five home runs. He also was 8-for-10 in stolen base attempts. He got on base the hard way, hit by 11 pitches, but he's got some idea of the strike zone with 28 walks to go with 38 strikeouts. He's very young. In fact, had he been born one week later, he would not have been eligible to be signed until this coming January. He's 6-0, 190 pounds, and built really strong for such a young age. He is a switch-hitter. He has a strong arm but is obviously still developing behind the plate. At the trade deadline, the Twins added Eduardo Tait and Enrique Jimenez, both teenage backstops. It is clearly indicative of a Twins need in the organization. 

Regarding the maneuvering of the day, General Manager Jeremy Zoll noted, "We looked at all the available guys, worked through some different options, had some really good conversations on how it might all fit together. As we evaluated different opportunities, the ability to make a trade here and acquire someone you know at the lower levels that we think could really grow into something felt like a more appealing opportunity,"

The other side of the Rule 5 draft is the possibility of losing players to other organizations. The last time the Twins lost a player in the major-league portion of the Rule 5 draft was in 2020 when they lost both RHP Tyler Wells (Orioles) and outfielder Akil Baddoo (Tigers).

The Twins lost no one in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft, despite our concerns. 

In the first round of the minor league Rule 5, the Twins selected RHP Sam Ryan from the Angels organization. The 27-year-old has missed quite a bit of time in his career with injury. In 2025, he pitched in 44 games (2 starts) between High-A and Double-A. Combined, he went 3-6 with a 4.20 ERA. In 70 2/3 innings, he had 76 strikeouts and 33 walks. He pitched in the independent Frontier League in 2024. Before that, he spent five seasons with the Blue Jays organization. The Angels had signed him to a multi-year development deal. 

In the second round, the Twins took outfielder Garrett Spain from the Brewers roster. A 25-year-old, he was the 15th round pick of the Blue Jays in 2021 from Austin Peay State. He joined the Brewers organization in 2025. In 120 games for Double-A Biloxi, he hit .207/.282/.377 (.659) with 17 doubles, four triples and 16 home runs. He finished the season with 11 games for Triple-A Nashville, he hit just .162 (.472) with two doubles. 

In the second round, the New York Mets selected LHP Aaron Rozek, a LHP from Burnsville, Minnesota. He pitched at Minnesota State in Mankato. He joined the Twins out of the independent leagues in 2021. He's spent the past two seasons splitting time between the Wind Surge and the Saints. 

In the third round of the minor-league Rule 5, the Twins lost RHP John Stankiewicz to the Tigers organization. The 27-year-old from Fordham also split the last two seasons between the Wind Surge and Saints. 

Summary: 
Well, for our annual Rule 5 scare and concerns, there were just 13 players taken in the MLB Rule 5 and 55 players taken in the MILB Rule 5. The Twins lost no one in the MLB portion of the draft. They pitched Daniel Susac, a former first-round pick with a full season in Triple-A, for a 17-year-old catcher from the Dominican Summer League. They took a pitcher and an outfielder in the minor-league portion, and they lost two pitchers who spent time in the Twins upper levels in 2025. 

One other note, and it's really just more of a question. I do believe that the Twins organization is fairly strong in terms of high-level prospects, especially following the trade deadline. However, as much as I think there are a lot of players who could be big leaguers, the Twins haven't lost a lot of players in recent Rule 5 drafts. In comparison, the Brewers lost a bunch of players in the minor-league Rule 5 draft including Twins pick Spain and Minnesota native Nate Peterson. 

Does the lack of Rule 5 picks lost in both the MLB and MILB portions of the Rule 5 draft mean that the Twins don't have as much depth as we think? Or, is it just that they do a really good job of player evaluation and have a good idea of which guys truly have to be protected. The MLB roster has 40 members. The Triple-A roster can have up to 36 on it, and I believe they should be at 34 after this afternoon. That's a lot of players protected, and there are a ton of players that aren't eligible for either draft. My sense is it doesn't indicate anything to be concerned about, but it is notable and worth asking. 

Now we just need lots of comments about how we worry so much every year and ultimately, it's pretty uneventful. 

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[Cory Engelhardt]

Bobby Nightengale is saying the Twins are already trading Susac to the Giants. More to come.

[High heat]

I liked Susac as an option before they traded for Alex Jackson.  I still like bringing him to compete for the back up catcher as I’m not completely sold on Jackson. 
 

I assumed they would be taking a pitcher since they have so many  bullpen spots to fill but maybe they really like Susac.  
 

I just hope this doesn’t mean the Jeffers rumors are true and they plan on going with Susac and Jackson as the catchers in 2026.  Hikes!!!

[Drtwins]

Susac was who I was hoping for the last couple of weeks. He could have battled it out with Jackson in spring training for the backup spot. Per the twins way, my hope was immediately crushed.

[Dman]

Was going to write the following until traded:

"Susac is a decent pick given the Twins struggle to develop catchers.  Still I didn't see that pick coming since they just traded for Jackson and while Pereda isn't anything special he;s still on the 40 man. They still have Gasper as well.  So four catchers right now.  

The odds of him sticking seem slim IMO, but given the offense the Twins got from Vasquez last year maybe they can if his defense is decent. Unless they trade Jeffers they would have to carry three catchers this year which also seems unlikely.  Will be interesting to see what happens.

Personally out of anyone they could have picked I think I liked Susac the best.  Hopefully he is worth keeping."

I guess that explains the pick.  Twins were more interested in money than the pick.

[LastOnePicked]

Oh boy. Falvey is addicted to trades. Gonna need rehab soon.

[hlsballer318]

Can someone explain why they would draft then immediately trade this guy?

Is this a move to open up a trade channel with the Giants for someone else?

My first time paying attention to rule 5 and I want to learn more!

[Dman]

No Twins picked in Rule V draft as predicted by most of the board.  Just shows how hard it is to carry those picks all year unless things work out extremely well. Only 13 picks made this year.

[bunsen82]

So did they trade him for money or my guess is a reliever they liked better than anyone in the rule V.   

[Dman]

6 minutes ago, hlsballer318 said:

Can someone explain why they would draft then immediately trade this guy?

Is this a move to open up a trade channel with the Giants for someone else?

My first time paying attention to rule 5 and I want to learn more!

It seems to me most RuleV trades simply involve money.  Similar to teams who trade for marginal players during the season for money.  I don't think any player will be involved in this trade.

[SaberNerd]

7 minutes ago, hlsballer318 said:

Can someone explain why they would draft then immediately trade this guy?

Is this a move to open up a trade channel with the Giants for someone else?

My first time paying attention to rule 5 and I want to learn more!

Twins weren't going to pick anybody, so they auctioned the pick to the highest bidder. Giants paid to move up so he didn't get taken. You aren't allowed to trade draft picks, but you can immediately trade the player after picking. It's pretty common in the Rule 5

[DJL44]

The Twins essentially bought Caraballo for $100k. That's a good deal. He got a $150,000 bonus from the Giants to sign last winter. He had an 874 OPS in the Dominican league last summer.

[Major League Ready]

19 minutes ago, Dman said:

I guess that explains the pick.  Twins were more interested in money than the pick.

I don't understand.  How did they make money on this pick?

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Catching pipeline!

[old nurse]

Garrett Spain. In the second round of the MiLB draft. I guess they figure on losing Outman when they DFA him. Yup, a poor hitting LH outfielder that has played all 3 spots.

[Dman]

5 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I don't understand.  How did they make money on this pick?

I assume they traded him for money. Didn't they do that with San Diego a few years back?

 

My bad it was cash and another Rule V pick.

 

In December 2016, the Minnesota Twins used their #1 overall Rule 5 Draft pick to select RHP Miguel Diaz from the Brewers, then immediately traded him to the San Diego Padres for RHP Justin Haley (also a Rule 5 pick) and cash or a player to be named later, completing a complex multi-team deal where the Padres acquired Diaz and another prospect (Luis Torrens) for Haley, ultimately getting the top prospects they wanted for cash. The Twins got a player (Haley) and cash, while the Padres got two promising young players (Diaz & Torrens)

[old nurse]

2 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I don't understand.  How did they make money on this pick?

Maybe the Giants slipped them $10 to make the trade. 

[IndianaTwin]

5 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I don't understand.  How did they make money on this pick?

I don't think they did.

They essentially traded McCusker for Caraballo and an open roster spot on the 40-man.

[bunsen82]

So we flipped the number 4 pick and 100k in rule 5 for a lottery ticket.  16 year old Miguel Caraballo with .876 OPS,  not bad.  

[farmerguychris]

Bummer - I was hoping to see if Susac could push Jackson for a MLB spot.

 

[Brandon]

They traded for a C prospect that they didn't have to worry about losing if he didn't stay on the roster.  

[bunsen82]

1 minute ago, farmerguychris said:

Bummer - I was hoping to see if Susac could push Jackson for a MLB spot.

 

I first thought they were willing to run with a Susac/Jackson C tandem and they were trading Jeffers.  Susac in my opinion is a back up catcher for this year.   He is a decent asset that was left unprotected.  Obviously enough that giants were willing to give up a lottery ticket for him.  

[Dman]

8 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

I don't think they did.

They essentially traded McCusker for Caraballo and an open roster spot on the 40-man.

I'd say odds are the Twins will get some money back as well.  I doubt they would pay the pick fee to just get the lotto ticket unless this guy ahs more potential than I think at this point.

 

[weitz41]

Well crap. I wanted the Twins to get Susac as their backup catcher before the Jackson trade. Then they get him for 100K and trade him...Well many years of Caraballo at a discount of the signing bonus seems like a smart play. Considering the chances of Susac staying on the 26 man were probably 10% or less.

[Major League Ready]

9 minutes ago, Dman said:

I'd say odds are the Twins will get some money back as well.  I doubt they would pay the pick fee to just get the lotto ticket unless this guy ahs more potential than I think at this point.

 

Caraballo received a $150K signing bonus last year from the Giants so I would guess the Twins have no problem paying $100K to sign him.  

[rdehring]

OK, the winter meetings are over.  And what have the Twins accomplished?

1- Picked up a solid middle innings reliever in a trade for a lower-level prospect.

2- Picked up a backup catcher with some big-league experience in another trade.  

3- Confirmed that they do not plan on trading any of their best players while working to add to the roster, most likely in the bullpen and a power bat (maybe a first baseman?)

4- Got the third pick in next summer's draft.

5- Opened a spot on their 40-man before picking an interesting catcher in the Rule-5.  Then traded him to San Francisco for a promising 17-year-old catcher leaving the roster at 39.

6- Gave us the impression that we will know who the two investors are within a week or two.

Actually a promising start to the hot stove season.  Now will they actually follow thru and give this team a chance in the Central Division?

 

 

[SaberNerd]

Twins traded the pick for a prospect rather than cash (my guess is SF is paying the draft fee).  Org can't be too strapped for cash if they choose that

[Greglw3]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Bobby Nightengale is saying the Twins are already trading Susac to the Giants. More to come.

Trader Derek!

[The Great Hambino]

47 minutes ago, old nurse said:

Garrett Spain. In the second round of the MiLB draft. I guess they figure on losing Outman when they DFA him. Yup, a poor hitting LH outfielder that has played all 3 spots.

Of course he hits left-handed

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

Not gonna lie - seems like a stupid trade.  He would have been on the 40 man roster, yes, but he also likely competes for the backup spot behind Jeffers and could have maybe been ready to contribute at the MLB level.  But now, instead, we have a teenage prospect who is years away from even AAA.  We already have two catching prospects that fit the exact same situation.

Should have kept Susac and given him a shot to make the team this season.