Bryce

Eldridge

Eldridge finished 4-for-5 to raise his batting average to a stratospheric .360 mark through 13 games. The 21-year-old slugging first base prodigy has posted three consecutive multi-hit performances and is clearly benefitting from the Pacific Coast League’s extremely hitter friendly environments. The Giants are going to give him plenty of time to make adjustments and continue gaining confidence before giving him another extended look at the highest level. He’s one of the top prospects in the entire fantasy landscape and has a chance to be an upper-echelon contributor someday if everything clicks.

He also didn’t strike out. The 21-year-old has gone 5-for-18 to start the season with one double, two RBI, and a 6/5 K/BB ratio in five games. Seeing just a .333 slugging percentage from Eldridge is odd, and him striking out more than once per game is not ideal, but he has plenty of talent and time to keep tweaking his approach.

Eldridge had a couple of strong games in exhibitions after the Giants sent him down and reaching four times in his first Triple-A contest is another good sign. His hit was a 103-mph line drive. He did strike out in his remaining at-bat. The Giants aren’t going to want to bring up Eldridge as a savior while being this ice cold at the plate, but it’s hard not see him as an upgrade over Casey Schmitt against right-handers.

It’s one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports. We still don’t have a sarcasm font. Eldridge took Tyler Mahle deep and also singled. The 6-foot-7 slugger is going to open the season in the minors, but he has a chance to provide some fantasy fireworks before the end of 2026.

Giants’ skipper Tony Vitello had hinted last week that Eldridge could open the season at Triple-A so that he could continue playing every day rather than functioning in a platoon role with the Giants, so this doesn’t come as a major surprise. He’ll definitely get a chance with the Giants at some point during the 2026 campaign.

Giants manager Tony Vitello seemed to indicate earlier this week that there was a possibility Eldridge could begin the year in at Triple-A Sacramento. It might be the correct decision for the 21-year-old top prospect’s long-term development to continue playing everyday in the minors as opposing to occupying a platoon role in the big leagues. There are two weeks left before San Francisco has to make a decision on his immediate future.

The 21-year-old has gone 6-for-25 (.240) this spring with one home run, six runs scored, five RBI, and a 10/5 K/BB ratio. He also hit just .107/.297/.179 in 37 plate appearances with the Giants last season and had a strikeout rate of 31 percent in 66 games at Triple-A last season, so there is certainly an argument that he could use a bit more time in the minor leagues. If Eldridge does start the season in Triple-A, the Giants could use the DH spot for more at-bats for Casey Schmitt and Luis Matos and could perhaps carry Victor Bericoto on the Opening Day roster after he has impressed this spring.

We’re seeing close to a full lineup from the Giants in this one, with the only regular not here being Heliot Ramos who batted third in Saturday’s contest. It looks like new skipper Tony Vitello is content letting Arraez bat atop the lineup while Matt Chapman’s inclusion in the second spot is mildly intriguing. Just something to keep an eye on. Here’s the full lineup for Sunday: Luis Arraez (2B), Matt Chapman (3B), Willy Adames (SS), Rafael Devers (1B), Patrick Bailey (C), Jung Hoo Lee (RF), Bryce Eldridge (DH), Will Brennan (LF) and Harrison Bader (CF).

Eldridge, who underwent offseason wrist surgery to remove a bone spur, can cement his spot on San Francisco’s season-opening roster, floating between first base and DH, with a strong performance this spring. The 21-year-old power-hitting prospect struggled last year in his first exposure to big-league pitching but he’s still only 21 years old and possesses respectable plate skills for a masher with his towering frame. Eldridge offers sky-high over-the-fence power potential but there’s enough risk present that his immediate fantasy appeal is strictly limited to deeper mixed leagues as a late-round flyer.

The 21-year-old slugger underwent surgery in October to remove a bone spur from his wrist. While it delayed his usual offseason routine, Eldridge said he has been swinging a bat since mid-December and won’t have any restrictions in spring training. Eldridge and Rafael Devers are expected to cover the first base and designated hitter spots in the Giants’ lineup for the upcoming season.