Power-hitting prospect is lone SF Giants representative in Baseball Prospectus top-101 list

Baseball Prospectus published its annual top-101 prospect list on Tuesday. Not surprisingly, the SF Giants only had one representative make the cut in power-hitting first baseman Bryce Eldridge.

Power-hitting prospect is lone SF Giants representative in Baseball Prospectus top-101 list

Eldridge came in at No. 15 on the list, which is one of the higher rankings for the young first baseman. Prospect rankings are not the be-all and end-all lists for farm systems but it is hard to ignore that the Giants have often rated low in these rankings while producing very few everyday players over the past 15 years.

There have been some exceptions. Logan Webb and Patrick Bailey rarely appeared on these lists. Webb has turned into one of the most durable pitchers in baseball, whereas Bailey is the best defensive catcher.

This will be Buster Posey's biggest challenge as team president of baseball operations. Undoubtedly, he will have a unique perspective in negotiations with free agents given his extensive accomplishments on the baseball field. That said, spending in free agency is an expensive way to build a roster. At some point, teams need the farm system to fill the major league club.

That pipeline has essentially gone dry since the late 2000's. Not surprisingly, the team's struggles have corresponded with that dry spell.

The Giants hope that Bryce Eldridge can help turn things around. Since being selected in the first round of the 2023 draft, the left-handed bat has quickly established himself as one of the best hitting prospects in baseball.

The 20-year-old prospect just completed a very strong season at the plate, slashing .292/.374/.516 with 23 home runs and 92 RBI in 519 plate appearances across four levels. He began the year in Low-A and rose all the way up to Triple-A by the end of the season. While the Giants are hopeful that he can become a middle-of-the-order bat soon, this front office may remain a little more patient by allowing Eldridge to get more exposure in the minors in 2025.

These prospect lists also show how sensitive the rankings are to performance. Baseball Prospectus had Carson Whisenhunt at No. 68 last year but he fell off of the list completely after posting a 5.42 ERA in 25 Triple-A starts in 2024. Though, ERA does not tell the whole story in a hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Based on the eye test, Whisenhunt was a better pitcher last year than he was in 2023 as he threw a slider with more confidence to pair with his fastball-changeup mix. However, the command is still a work in progress. It was still a good year of development for the young lefty in many respects.