Position change could potentially be in the cards for SF Giants top prospect

There are a number of question marks swirling around SF Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge ahead of the 2026 season. Will he make the Opening Day roster? If he does, where will he play? Can he and Rafael Devers coexist on the roster together when they both play first base?

We obviously do not know the answers to any of these yet, but one question that does not come up quite as often is whether Eldridge could end up changing positions. This possibility was explored in the most recent episode of the Giants Talk podcast.

Top SF Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge could change positions

This is unlikely to be a sudden change, but maybe over time the Giants may decide to shift Eldridge to a corner outfield spot if they feel he is a better fit there rather than first base.

After the addition of Luis Arraez, who may very well end up being a nice bit of Eldridge insurance if the prospect is not truly ready for the big leagues, the Giants now have three players on the roster who are best suited for a first base or designated hitter role.

The Giants are going to try to make it work at second base, but if that risky endeavor does not pan out then they will have three guys competing for two spots in the lineup.

That could force the team to get creative. By getting Eldridge some experience in left field or right field, which is where they initially put him after he converted from being a two-way player before switching to first base, they could at least give themselves greater flexibility and could find different ways to include his bat in the lineup.

Alex Pavlovic and Cole Kuiper, the hosts of the Giants Talk podcast, compared moving Eldridge to the outfield to when the Giants would use Brandon Belt in left field sometimes. Tall guys can play the outfield too so it would not hurt to give Eldridge some more reps out there especially in spring training when games do not count.

Of course, how Eldridge performs at the plate is going to be far more important in determining his success at the big league level than where he plays defensively. If he hits for power and delivers on his potential, then the Giants will find a way to get his bat in the lineup.

He is coming off wrist surgery in the offseason so patience may be the best strategy with Eldridge, but moving him around the diamond a bit is not a terrible idea especially since he is still just 21 and his position is not fully set in stone.