Are SF Giants making a mistake calling up top prospect with 2 weeks left in season?

The SF Giants are calling up their slugging prospect Bryce Eldridge, and it is worth wondering if this is really the right move for the team considering there are two weeks left in the season and they are in a tight playoff race.

With Dominic Smith going down with an injury, the Giants needed to call up somebody, and Eldridge, the Giants No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is that somebody.

Are SF Giants making a mistake by calling up Bryce Eldridge?

Eldridge, in his age 20 season, has moved through three ranks of the minor leagues in 2025. He began the season playing two games in Rookie-ball, and then split the rest of his year between Double-A and Triple-A.

Is Eldridge ready for the majors? His slugging certainly is. Eldridge hit 18 home runs during his 66-game stint in Sacramento. He added 13 doubles on top of that, helping him to a .514 slugging. That was after slugging .512 in 34 games in Double-A.

However, the rest of Eldridge's game might not be at a major league level. He hit .249 in Triple-A and reached base at a .322 clip. This season in the minor leagues, he has struck out 127 times in 102 games. His plate discipline probably is not at the place it needs to be if he is striking out that much in the minors.

There's also the risk of inserting a 20-year-old into such a high-pressure scenario to begin his career. Eldridge is being thrust into a lineup that is in the thick of a heated postseason race. Despite their 75-74 record, the Giants are 1.5 games back of the New York Mets for the final NL Wild Card spot. With 13 games remaining in their season, San Francisco still has a real chance to make the playoffs.

Asking Eldridge to come to the team and immediately provide the spark the offense needs to make their final postseason push is a big ask. If Eldridge does not deliver, how will Giants fans react? It could be a massive blow to his confidence if he struggles down the stretch in his first taste of major league action.

Despite these risks, the Giants are going with Eldridge. Hopefully, the move will pay off and Eldridge can help bring San Francisco back to the postseason. If he does struggle, the Giants will have to hope he can shrug it off and be ready to make an impact next year.

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