Bryce Eldridge 1B. DOB: 10/20/2004. B-L, T-R. 6' 7", 223 lbs. Drafted 2023 Round 1
2024(A): .263/.323/478, 14 2B, 10 HR, 2 SB, 7.4 BB%, 26.6 K%, 229 PA.
2024(A+): .335/.442/.618, 11 HR, 3B, 12 HR, 16.3 BB%, 24.2 K%, 215 PA.
2024(AA): .270/.325/.459, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 7.5 BB%, 20.0 K%, 40 PA.
2024(AAA): .226/.314/.226, 11.4 BB%, 31.4 K%, 35 PA.
2024(AFL): .293/.348/.512, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6.5 BB%, 34.8 K%, 46 PA.
In 2010 the Giants had a first base prospect who blew through 3 levels in his first pro season then hit .372 in the AFL. The Giants were coming off winning a World Series but with a patchwork group of misfits and were in desperate need of more thump in the lineup. He had a good spring and made the Opening Day roster. To some observers he seemed awfully wide-eyed, struggled with big league pitching and got sent down which was an emotionally traumatic experience. He spent the rest of the season shuttling between AAA and the Giants. He batted .225 at the MLB level but showed his power potential with 9 HR's in 209 PAs.
I am sure Buster Posey remembers Brandon Belt's difficult rookie season and does not want to repeat that with Bryce Eldridge. In a recent interview with Brodie Brazil, Bob Melvin backed that up saying Eldridge is a special hitter and a highly motivated prospect but he's just 20 years old and had a long whirlwind season playing at 4 levels plus the Arizona Fall League. Melvin said he needs to slow down and build up AB's in the upper minors but when he arrives he will have that experience and confidence to be the special hitter he can be.
Although I think the Giants farm system is underrated and there are more good prospects in it than Eldridge, he is the shining star, The Franchise if you will. He has tremendous size and raw power and a swing that allows him to control the strike zone despite his length. He still needs some coaching and experience to polish up his defensive game at first base but has the athleticism to eventually be a plus defender there. Absolute worst case scenario is he has more than enough bat to justify carrying him as a dedicated DH.
It's hard to say when we will see him in a Giants uniform during the regular season. It probably depends partly on how well LMWJ and Wilmer Flores remain healthy and productive as a first base platoon but we will likely see Bryce Eldridge in the majors at some point in 2025 even if it's a late-season call up.
Seth Lonsway, Nick Sinacola, Dylans Carmouche & Cumming all played 2 levels last season (SJ-Eug, or Eug-Rich) all started 17-24 games logging 95-122 innings with 3.01-4.11 ERAs but I don't see any of them on prospect lists (3/4 of them did have substantial post-promotion ERA spikes). Insights about any of them?
ReplyDeleteSinacola was #26. The Dylans probably would have made the honorable mention list if I had one this year. More evidence the system runs better and deeper than it's generally given credit for.
DeleteI heard that the Giants will be attempting to get Belt in camp at Scottsdale as an instructor for Eldridge. Belt might help Eldridge even more than JT Snow because they are both tall.
ReplyDeleteI get a lot of tunnel vision from time to time, focusing on the Giants farm. I am convinced it is consistently underrated, and the Giants historically have done a poor job of properly "inflating" their prospects value. However, I do think one thing I see when I look at other farm systems is that they have more players who have "star" potential. Besides Eldridge I don't see many players outside of the DSL who have that type of star potential. The ones who do are already on the ML roster (Harrison, Birdsong, Matos, Luciano etc.)
ReplyDeleteNot for nothing, but one the Doggers had 2 top prospects - C Cartoya - was DFA, and 2B Lux was traded for not much.
DeleteAlso their young SP havn't set the world on fire for the most part.
Prospects are just that.
The Dodgers had a long string of pitching prospects come up throwing 100 MPH and they all suffered arm injuries.
DeleteIt could be argued that Doc’s #4 through #6 prospects (Tibbs, Level and Arias) do offer “star” potential. Bad luck (injuries) and delayed starts seemingly make this year key to providing a better sense of how good they could turn out. I think it’s way too early, though, to come to the conclusion that SF’s system lacks enough players who could be considered as future studs.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the "post-prospects" offer "star potential". About half dozen of them would have ordinarily been still in the top 50 list if they had been on a normal track.
DeleteThanks for the top 50 rundown. I look forwards to reading every entry each year.
ReplyDeleteI’m especially excited about the many pitching prospects. Giants have shown they can develop pitchers well, so I’m hopeful there are at least a few productive big league starters and relievers among their stable of prospects. Focusing on pitching and defense plays to their home ballpark and even though the game has changed since the glory years of their WS seasons, pitching and defense are timeless and win in every ballpark. Since major league free agents seem to shun SF for the most part I really like how they are starting to concentrate on players from Asia and Latin America. It won’t happen overnight but it really looks like the Giants have a good plan and are on the right path.
ReplyDelete"ML free agents seem to shun SF for the most part"
DeleteExcept 2 premiers @ SS & 3B.
Hoping we can put this to rest forever when Tucker signs next year.
Yes, I think this trope is overdone. Carlos Correa also signed. I do think for some reason there is negative word of mouth about the city or organization among players from Japan. That obviously does not extend to Korea.
DeleteIt would make a great made for TV movie if Belt came back as an instructor and was all healthy and relaxed and, in showing BE how to pick it, shows that he himself still has the magical D and can still drive the ball to all fields. So much so that the KID goes to BoMel and says, “Hey, the Old Baby Giraffe still has some gas in the tank.” And BoMel contemplates the idea that this could work and the rest is a big happy ending.
ReplyDeleteBelt always used to have really good spring trainings IIRC….at least he would until he stepped on the proverbial rake and experienced some season limiting injury.
Gawd I love that baseball is back.
I like what Buster had to say about Bryce Eldridge that from reports he wants to be "the Guy'. He wants to come up to hit in a big situation and come up with the big defensive play on the field. I would want players with that kind of makeup. Buster said they would want Bryce to spend a whole season gaining reps in the minors but wouldn't be disappointed if Bryce forces the issue for an earlier callup to the majors. Thats kinda in line with your post.. I should be interesting
ReplyDelete