SF Giants move 2023 3rd-round pick up to High-A

The SF Giants recently moved 2023 first-round pick Bryce Eldridge up to the Eugene Emeralds. He will be joined by another prospect from that draft class as middle infield prospect Cole Foster was bumped up to Eugene, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants move 2023 3rd-round pick up to High-A

The Giants selected Eldridge with the 16th overall pick followed by Walker Martin and Joe Whitman in the second round last year. Foster followed as the team's third-round pick out of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

The switch-hitter posted a .306/.414/.527 line with 22 home runs and 97 RBI in three college seasons. This included a solid 2023 campaign in which he registered a .999 OPS with 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 263 plate appearances while seeing time exclusively at shortstop.

Foster was drafted with the 85th pick, which held a slot value of $820,000. However, he signed for a below-slot bonus of $747,500.

While Foster appeared primarily at shortstop in college, he has the athleticism, range, and arm to be able to move around the diamond. He appeared mostly at shortstop for the San Jose Giants in 2024, but saw some time at second base as well.

In the batter's box, Foster has more of an uppercut swing from the left side, but a more balanced swing that stays in the zone from the right side. He has some swing-and-miss inherent with his bat path, but he does expand the strike zone as well. As Foster develops, he will need to limit the chase rate.

The 22-year-old has modest power from both sides and excelled to a 1.103 OPS as a right-handed hitter in 56 plate appearances with San Jose. Overall, he slashed .247/.336/.370 (96 wRC+) with three home runs, 36 RBI, and 33 runs in 254 plate appearances.

Foster immediately introduced himself to the Northwest League as he blasted a solo home run in his second game with Eugene in a 2-1 win over the Hillsboro Hops on Friday night.