Giants' Eldridge flexes for 4th club in 6 months, displays nifty glove to boot
PEORIA, Ariz. – While the summer of Bryce Eldridge is in the rearview mirror, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the Giants’ top prospect continuing to slug home runs during the fall. At just 19 years old, San Francisco’s 2023 first-round pick mashed his first Arizona Fall League home run
PEORIA, Ariz. – While the summer of Bryce Eldridge is in the rearview mirror, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the Giants’ top prospect continuing to slug home runs during the fall.
At just 19 years old, San Francisco’s 2023 first-round pick mashed his first Arizona Fall League home run Thursday afternoon in the Scorpions’ 11-6 win over the Javelinas at the Peoria Sports Complex. It marked his fourth different club to homer with in the span of just over six months, a testament to his rise from projectable high school hitter to one of the game’s premier power-hitting prospects.
But going deep? That happened plenty for Eldridge this season, 23 times to be precise. While he showcased his 60-grade power in the top of the ninth inning, he got a modicum of redemption in the bottom of the frame for a prior defensive miscue.
At 6-foot-7, Eldridge is liable to snare many a rebound. But on Sept. 17 for Triple-A Sacramento, he was the one needing a helping hand.
This time around, the now-full-time first baseman was there to sprawl out.
“In the middle of the year, we had moments like that where you get pop flies around home plate and that was kind of a teaching moment, as I stayed back on one that got dropped,” Eldridge said. “So when that ball went up in the air, I knew it was going to the catcher, but I wanted to be there to try and help out in case he got a bad read on it. And thankfully I was there to get the rebound.”
Eldridge homered in his first game of the season on April 5 with “Giants” sprawled across the front of his uniform, albeit for Single-A San Jose. On Thursday, he rocked the big league San Francisco road grays as he jogged around the bases for Scottsdale, serving as something of a precursor for things to come after a meteoric rise in which he reached the Minor Leagues' highest level in his first full pro campaign.
When the 2024 season started, Eldridge was newly a hit-only talent, albeit one the club had high aspirations for. MLB's No. 35 overall prospect slugged 10 homers across 51 games in the notoriously cavernous parks of the California League before obliterating High-A Northwest League pitching (1.060 OPS, 187 wRC+) with Eugene.
The only thing that slowed down his blitzkrieg of opposing pitchers was a weekend off to participate in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Even the most impressive Minor League seasons have a blemish or area for improvement. In Eldridge’s case, it was his production against southpaws. In 125 plate appearances, he slashed just .211/.272/.316 with only a quarter of his hits going for extra bases. So when he traveled to Globe Life Field, he knew where to go to seek advice.
📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ
“The biggest thing was hanging out in the dugout with Ken Griffey Jr.,” Eldridge said. “The second I figured out I was getting pulled out of the game, I went and slid myself right in next to him on the bench and started asking questions about how he approaches different types of pitchers – mostly that left-on-left matchup that I struggled with a little bit this year, so trying to pick his brain on that.”
When the calendar hit September, Eldridge was still storming his way through High-A. Then the levels changed, quickly: A nine-game stint with Double-A Richmond enabled him to return home to Virginia just over a year after dominating on the prep scene. An eight-game sprint with Sacramento followed, where he became the youngest regular in the Pacific Coast League.
Then came news of being tabbed for the Arizona Fall League.
Through it all, Eldridge has been something of a north star for a fan base rabid for an impact bat. No Giant has delivered a 30-homer season since Barry Bonds in 2004, and Eldridge has a left-handed swing geared for loft, making it a perfect marriage of potential and future production.
Sign him to a 20 year contract I’ve seen enough
— Rich (@Richifornia) September 15, 2024
“It's awesome,” Eldridge said. “I mean, that's all you can hope for going into an organization is getting the love of the fan base. I just gotta keep trying to stay positive and treating these fans right and keep putting on for the team, for the organization. My family eats up [the social media hype] way more than you'd imagine, they love it.”
Jesse Borek is a reporter/coordinator of prospect content at MLB Pipeline and MiLB. Follow him on Twitter @JesseABorek.
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring