Eldridge among Giants prospects on AFL stage
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Bryce Eldridge has plenty of ingredients to become a frontline starter. He's a 6-foot-7 left-hander with a 92-94 mph fastball that reaches 96 and a low-80s slider that misses bats, and he dominated as a reliever while helping Team USA win the 2022 World Cup at the
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Bryce Eldridge has plenty of ingredients to become a frontline starter. He's a 6-foot-7 left-hander with a 92-94 mph fastball that reaches 96 and a low-80s slider that misses bats, and he dominated as a reliever while helping Team USA win the 2022 World Cup at the 18-and-under level.
Since the Giants signed the Virginia high school product for $3,997,500 as the 16th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, he hasn't thrown a single pitch. And that looks like the right decision.
In his first full pro season playing strictly as a hitter, Eldridge vaulted from Single-A to Triple-A at age 19, batting a combined .291/.374/.516 with 23 homers in 116 games. Now he's one of seven teenagers in the Arizona Fall League, where he went 3-for-16 with a double in his first four games for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Eldridge, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Giants' No. 1 prospect and the No. 35 prospect overall, said he's curious to know how he'd fare against professional hitters as a pitcher, but he also believes in San Francisco's plan for him.
"Seeing what I saw this year, I think I could have definitely competed out there on the mound. But looking back, I have no regrets," Eldridge said. "Focusing solely on hitting this year has helped me grow a lot as a hitter.
"I like to think it's working out so far and the goal is always to get up to the big leagues as quick as possible. And that was definitely the route -- just drop the ball on the mound and keep swinging it."
Eldridge has huge power to match his huge frame, and he smashes balls harder than most teenagers, but he's also an advanced hitter with a mature approach. Interestingly, he's less polished on defense than at the plate. He spent his pro debut in right field before making 18 errors in 100 games at first base this summer, and he said he's looking forward to refining his glovework in the Fall League.
"This is another opportunity for me to keep showcasing my talent," Eldridge said. "I think the big thing for them is seeing me get better at first base and this is a great way to do it, playing out here and being around a good coaching staff.
"We've got a lot of good outfielders in our system, and I think the plan now is just to keep playing first. I think that will help me get up there quickly, just worrying about hitting bombs and hitting the ball hard and not chasing down balls in the outfield."
Giants hitters in the Fall League
Bo Davidson, OF (No. 25): A nondrafted free agent signed for $50,000 out of Caldwell (N.C.) CC last summer, Davidson is one of the best athletes in the system and offers plus raw power and speed to go with solid arm strength. He had a monster first full pro season, slashing .327/.437/.605 with 11 homers in 63 games between Rookie ball and Single-A.
Drew Cavanaugh, C: Cavanaugh stands out most with his defense and threw out 31 percent of basestealers this season. Selected in the 17th round out of NCAA Division II Florida Southern in 2023, he batted .244/.370/.327 with two homers in 47 games between Single-A and Triple-A.
Charlie Szykowny, 3B: Szykowny played his first four college seasons at NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Stout before transferring to Illinois-Chicago and going in the ninth round of the 2023 Draft. He has 20-homer upside and a strong arm suited for third base, and he produced a .295/.362/.451 line with six long balls in 94 games between two Class A levels.
Giants pitchers in the Fall League
Marques Johnson, RHP: Acquired from the Red Sox in a July 2023 trade for Mauricio Llovera, Johnson works with a 94-97 mph fastball and flashes a plus slider. An injury limited him to six appearances and 7 1/3 innings this season.
William Kempner, RHP: When Kempner is at his best, he can run his fastball into the upper 90s, back it up with a solid mid-80s slider and flash an effective upper-80s changeup. But the 2022 third-rounder from Gonzaga missed all of this season with foot and shoulder ailments.
Cale Lansville, RHP: A 14th-rounder from San Jacinto (Texas) JC in 2023, Lansville logged a 4.32 ERA with a 72/24 K/BB ratio in 77 innings this year, mostly in Single-A. His upper-80s cutter is his best pitch, and he sets it up with a 92-95 mph fastball.
Elijah Pleasants, RHP: After pitching collegiately at Tennessee, Dallas Baptist and NCAA Division II Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.), Pleasants signed with San Francisco as a nondrafted free agent this summer. He posted a 3.42 ERA, .208 opponents' average and 41 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings between Rookie ball and Single-A, displaying a 92-96 mph fastball along with a promising changeup and slider.
Tyler Vogel, RHP: A reliever who mixes a 93-96 mph fastball with a curveball and changeup, Vogel went in the 12th round out of Jacksonville in 2022. He compiled a 3.99 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings between Rookie ball and High-A.