SF Giants make unpopular decision with first round of spring training cuts

The SF Giants have made their first round of spring training cuts, headlined by top prospect Bryce Eldridge being reassigned to minor league camp. This move may be unpopular with some fans, but it is probably the right call.

A complete list of the reassignments and options was shared by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle on social media. Outfielder Marco Luciano and pitcher Mason Black were both optioned while left-handed pitcher Raymond Burgos, pitcher Miguel Del Pozo, infielder Bryce Eldridge, pitcher Ethan Small, pitcher Kai Wei-Teng, and pitcher Cole Waites were all reassigned to minor league camp.

SF Giants make first round of spring cuts, among them Bryce Eldridge

There are not any massive surprises on this list. Black and Luciano had an outside chance of making the Opening Day roster but there were several players ahead of them on the depth chart who have been performing well in the Cactus League thus far.

Burgos was a potential bullpen candidate after the Giants decided to trade Taylor Rogers. As of right now Erik Miller is the only left-handed reliever guaranteed a spot in the bullpen so Burgos had a chance to join him but that will not come to pass.

Eldridge's reassignment may disappoint fans who were holding out hope that the Giants may have him on the Opening Day roster. He got off to a hot start with a booming home run in his first game of spring training, but his bat cooled off after that as he recorded only one more hit in 11 at-bats total for the spring.

Manager Bob Melvin said all along that he saw Eldridge starting the year in the minor leagues, so this should not come as a major shock. As our own Jeff Young recently noted, the Giants must be careful to not rush Eldridge up too soon which is what the team has done with other top prospects like Joey Bart and Luciano.

The worst thing the Giants could do is rush eldridge up before he is ready and harm his confidence if he is not up to the task against big league pitching. The Giants have two veterans to hold down the fort at first base this season while Eldridge does everything he can to ensure he is ready.

Spring cuts do not always mean that is the last we are going to hear of from a player that season, though. Heliot Ramos was reassigned to minor league camp last spring and he wound up being an All-Star so things can change very quickly.

Fans may not love the Eldridge decision, but it is a prudent one to ensure he gets ample experience in the minors before making his MLB debut which could still come at some point this season.