Keith Law laments 'baffling' approach SF Giants have taken with top prospect

Entering 2026, perhaps the biggest question the SF Giants will face is how much top prospect Bryce Eldridge will factor into the team's plans. He had a brief cup of coffee with the Giants last year and did not do much, but he could still make the Opening Day roster with a strong showing in spring training.

It's important to pump the brakes when thinking about Eldridge, though. He is just 21 and he has only played 74 games in Triple-A. His quick progression through the minors has led Keith Law, a senior baseball writer who ranks MLB farm systems for The Athletic, to call San Francisco's handling of Eldridge "baffling."

SF Giants' handling of top prospect Bryce Eldridge criticized by Keith Law

Law unsurprisingly ranked Eldridge as the top prospect in San Francisco's farm system and wrote the following about the tall, left-handed slugger, "Eldridge remains the Giants’ best prospect and offers huge offensive upside, but the way the franchise has handled him the past two years is baffling."

He went on to criticize San Francisco's decision to rush Eldridge up from Double-A to Triple-A last season. Law lauded Eldridge's power but clearly feels the Giants should have been more patient with him and let him develop more before calling him up.

It is a fair point of criticism especially after one could argue that the previous regime rushed up both Joey Bart and Marco Luciano, possibly harming their development in the process. The new front office led by president of baseball operations Buster Posey simply cannot make that same mistake with Eldridge.

That is why it would probably be the wisest move for the Giants to have Eldridge start the 2026 season in Triple-A. It would be a lot of pressure to have him on the Opening Day roster and throw him into the lineup as the everyday designated hitter. A cold start to the year and a demotion could really harm his confidence.

Eldridge is coming off an offseason in which he had wrist surgery and saw his name floated in trade rumors. The wrist should not be an issue in camp, but it is still prudent to slow play it with Eldridge.

Maybe beginning the season with Jerar Encarnacion, who is out of minor league options, as the DH would be a wise move. Let Eldridge get hot in the minors and then call him up when he's ready rather than throwing him to the wolves right from the start. They also have Luis Arraez as Eldridge insurance in case the veteran struggles at second base and Eldridge is not ready to handle DH duties.

That would be similar to how the Giants handled things with Buster Posey when he was a prospect. He had a brief showing with the Giants at the end of 2009 and started 2010 in Triple-A before getting promoted in May and never looking back.

It is easy for fans to fall in love with top prospects and want them to play right away, but patience is key with Eldridge which is why he should start 2026 in Sacramento.