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PODCAST: Northern CA ProCase

STOCKTON, CA. - The 2019 MLB Draft was completed on June 5th and on June 9th, it was time to turn our attention to the 2020 class at the Northern California ProCase. A select group of players were invited to participate in this exclusive event geared toward draft prospects and high level collegiate talents with future draft potential. Players were put through a pro-style workout with various stats/data recorded during the workouts which can be found HERE. 

Be sure to click on the highlighted player to see more video and notes from previous viewings at PBR Events and game play from previous spring seasons. We continue our player spotlights from the event:

C Daniel Susac (Jesuit HS)

Daniel Susac, a 2020 catcher and an Oregon State commit, is listed at 6-foot-2, 215-pounds. He's long and lanky, with present strength but a frame that will hold muscle gains as he approaches physical maturity. One of his best physical assets is his lower body agility, which he regularly displays on throws from his knees to all bases. The actions he displays behind the plate are those of a future plus defender at the catcher position. As an indication of his loose lower body and overall athleticism, he posted a very respectable 7.17 60-yard time.

As for measurable tools possessed by Susac, the arm and bat both project as plus tools at the professional level. The power arm/power bat profile is the most attractive profile for catchers, from the perspective of MLB scouts. Susac has an extremely loose arm and the ball leaps out of his hand. There is some tail on his throws and that is something to work on, as he tends to get inside his throws a bit and can lose carry. But coming out of his hand at 85-86 mph, it's clear that he's got a big time arm. Furthermore, he's confident and very willing to use that arm strength at any time, at any base. During the spring season I saw him back pick runners at 2nd base who didn't appear to be all that far off the bag. It's just that his arm is stronger than what high school baserunners experience. I've also observed infielders get surprised by how quickly Susac's throws get on them. His workout pop times were 1.95-2.02 and I've witnessed quicker than that last spring.

As a receiver he has soft and strong hands and sees the ball early out of his pitcher's hand. He can shift quietly and smoothly both left and right and has the ability to block and recover with athleticism and skill. He can occasionally get a little lackadaisical with blocks and some of that comes from being quite tall and perhaps too much focus on where he is going to throw on a given pitch. However, the tools to be a well above average receiver and at least average blocker are present. Another trait that stands out for Susac are his communications skills with pitchers and infielders. Given that he has been raised in a baseball family and his older brother Andrew is a big league catcher and was an elite high school and college talent, the intangibles are part of what make him such an attractive prospect.

Offensively he employs swing mechanics that are a bit reminiscent of Kris Bryant. He has swung a wood bat exclusively at the high school level so when it comes time to ink a pro contract, he won't need to make the transition to wood that many players have to make. Susac posted a 98 mph exit speed... off a tee, with said wood bat. His bat speed is not forced either, it happens easily. His BP rounds showed hit ability to drive the ball from gap to gap, with home run power and the ability to stay inside the ball and control the barrel. The power plays to both gaps. He also took a round from the left side and it's something he has worked on, but not yet used much in high school competition. Perhaps he will as a senior. The swing worked well, looked quite natural, and though not power like his right handed swing, he did show that he can pepper the oppo gap and drive the ball that way.

In a 2020 draft class with an uncommon amount of elite high school catching prospects in California, there will be differing opinions regarding who the top prospect is. It is my opinion that he is the top catching prospect in Northern California and projects as a top 75 national prospect for the 2020 draft.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Bay Area Open Showcase	CA	06/26	Laney College
Inland Empire Top Prospect ID	CA	07/23	Santiago High School
Northern California Top Prospect ID	CA	07/24	St. Mary's College
Junior Future Games	NATIONAL	07/30	LakePoint - Cartersville, GA
2019 PBR Future Games (California Invite)	CA	07/31	LakePoint - Cartersville, GA
California State Games	CA	08/17	Vanguard University
Kern County Prospect I.D.	CA	09/07	Cal State Bakersfield
Rising Stars Showcase	CA	09/21	Santiago High School

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