SF Giants reportedly sending top power-hitting prospect to Sacramento

The SF Giants have a need at first base, and their first basemen of the future is one step closer now. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Bryce Eldridge is being promoted to Triple-A.

SF Giants reportedly sending top power-hitting prospect to Sacramento

For Eldridge, this will be a return to the Sacramento River Cats, as he finished last season with the club. That was done to continue getting him at-bats with the rest of the minor league season concluding.

The Giants even sent Eldridge to the Arizona Fall League last year to add to his workload. He posted an .860 OPS with two home runs and six RBI in 46 plate appearances with the Scottsdale Scorpions. That season ended prematurely, as the Giants were satisfied with his progress.

The left-handed bat entered the season as the team's top prospect, and even had an outside shot at making the club. He hit a mammoth home run in spring training that excited the fan base. However, he sustained a wrist injury that delayed his start to the 2025 season.

When Eldridge did return, the Giants assigned him to Double-A. He only had 40 plate appearances with the Richmond Flying Squirrels before their season ended last year, so the Giants wanted him to get more development at that level.

As the 20-year-old prospect has proven at every other level, the advanced Double-A pitching and tough Eastern League was not much of a match. He slashed .280/.350/.512 (147 wRC+) with seven home runs, 20 RBI, and 14 runs in 140 plate appearances this year. This included a 9.3 percent walk rate, 27.9 percent strikeout rate, and .232 ISO.

The Giants want Eldridge to show some improvement in his contact rate, but the game power is very real. They also want him to continue working on his defense at first base. Buster Posey mentioned last week that he was pleased with Eldridge's progress in the field.

First base is still a relatively new position for Eldridge. He was drafted as a two-way player, but much of his position player experience was at DH in high school. He's an athletic player and a big target, so he should be able to pick up the nuances down the road.

In the meantime, this is an exciting step for Eldridge and the Giants. He is only one phone call away from making his debut.