SF Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge proved he belongs in MLB with just one swing

The SF Giants got absolutely smoked by Team USA on Tuesday as the All-Star assemblage of talent gets tuned up for the World Baseball Classic. Yet, it was still a great day for top prospect Bryce Eldridge who proved he can play in the big leagues with just one swing.

The tall left-handed power bat went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, but that does not tell the whole story. Eldridge faced reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and smoked a ball that came off his bat at 111.9 miles per hour.

It ended up being caught in deep center by Byron Buxton, one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, but it was still one heck of a swing. If Eldridge can take cuts like that against one of the best pitchers in baseball, he should be just fine in the big leagues.

Fans can be forgiven for rolling their eyes a little bit at the excitement over what was ultimately an out. Last season in Eldridge's brief call-up in September a lot was made about how hard he hit the ball when he made contact even though he had just three hits in 37 plate appearances.

Batted-ball metrics are all well and good, but at some point that hard contact will have to turn into hits and home runs for him to make an impact. Nonetheless, it was still a positive sign for the young player because if he keeps hitting it that hard the ball is eventually going to find grass, or maybe even water if he pulls it at Oracle Park.

Bryce Eldridge proves he belongs in big leagues with just one swing

Not only did Eldridge have that impressive swing, he also made a solid diving defensive play at first base which shows he is making progress at the position. He was also praised by both Aaron Judge and his childhood hero Bryce Harper. All around, not a bad day for the 21-year-old.

Eldridge has seen a lot of action so far in spring training. In eight games and 21 plate appearances he has four hits, including two doubles and a homer, three runs batted in, and has walked four times while striking out seven times.

He has not been bad by any stretch, but he needed to be really good in spring training to force his way onto the roster. Even if that swing against Skenes shows he can compete against the best MLB has to offer, there is a case to be made that Eldridge needs to marinate a little more in the minors before he is called up. That would be disappointing for fans excited to see a guy who many consider to be the future of Giants baseball, but it may be in the best interest of his long-term future to have him start the season with Sacramento.