Eldridge can potentially help SF Giants do more than just sneak into playoffs

The SF Giants called up their top prospect Bryce Eldridge as they try to make a playoff push late in the season. He could potentially help them do more than just sneak into the playoffs with it seeming likely that he will be eligible for the playoffs.

When he was first called up, Justice delos Santos of the Mercury News posted on social media that Eldridge would be eligible for the playoffs.

SF Giants should have Bryce Eldridge in the playoffs (if they make it)

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, who broke the story of Eldridge's call-up, also said on social media that he will be eligible for the playoffs.

Our own Jeff Young noted on social media that there will need to be special approval by MLB for a player added to the big league roster this late in the season to be eligible for the playoffs, but per the rules it seems because the Giants could argue Eldridge was in the organization by the end of August and is replacing injured first baseman Dominic Smith, he should be eligible.

Of course, this may all end up being a moot point with the Giants on a four-game losing streak and likely requiring a mini-miracle to even make the playoffs. The Giants are three games back of the New York Mets for the third and final NL Wild Card spot but with New York having the tiebreaker over San Francisco, the Giants will have to have a better record than New York by the end of the season.

However, if the Giants are indeed able to pull off a miracle and can make it into the playoffs, Eldridge should be there to help them in October. They will probably need him to get very hot with the bat very quickly in order to make that a possibility because the offense has run a bit cold as of late.

The plan seems to be to use Eldridge in a quasi-platoon with Wilmer Flores so we will see how that pans out. Eldridge went hitless in his big league debut on Monday but he did hit a deep drive to left field that would have been a homer in 23 other ballparks.

It may be unlikely that the Giants make it to the playoffs at this point, but if they do make it at least they will have Eldridge eligible to help them out.

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