SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Bryce Eldridge knew he didn’t have a realistic shot at cracking the Giants’ Opening Day roster last spring.
The 21-year-old slugger came into his first Major League Spring Training as the club’s No. 1 prospect, but he had played only 17 games above High-A Eugene and recognized that he was far from a finished product. He tried to make the most of his time around the big league club, though he ended up being sent out as part of the first wave of roster cuts in early March.
Eldridge’s expectations have changed now that he’s back for his second year in Giants camp.
After making his Major League debut last September, Eldridge is eager to carve out a bigger role and show that he deserves to stick with San Francisco.
“It’s exciting,” Eldridge said. “I kind of knew, coming into it last year, that I didn’t really have a chance to make it. So it’s definitely different. It’s cool. I think it makes it easier to kind of just relax and have fun. We heard a good message from Willy [Adames] and [Matt] Chapman in camp the other week just saying, 'Everybody’s just got to be themselves.' Don’t try to impress nobody. Being myself is what got me here, so I’m just going to keep being myself and have fun.”
COMPLETE GIANTS PROSPECT COVERAGE
The 6-foot-7 Eldridge will be aiming to join Rafael Devers as a first base and designated hitter option for the Giants, but he’s also expected to expand his versatility by getting a bit of exposure to the corner outfield this spring. Eldridge took some fly balls in left field during batting practice on Wednesday, working alongside outfielder Drew Gilbert, who offered tips on pre-pitch setups and how to approach the ball on the ground.
Eldridge doesn’t expect to take any formal reps with the outfielders during camp, but he said manager Tony Vitello asked him to start shagging fly balls just in case the Giants need more coverage on the grass at some point down the line. Eldridge had to borrow an outfield glove from Jung Hoo Lee on Wednesday, but he said his mom is in the process of shipping him one from his home in Virginia.
“[Vitello] said, ‘Take shagging seriously out there,’” Eldridge said. “You never know. If something happens and they need me in the lineup and put me out there -- or at least [make me] feel comfortable enough to put me out there and know that I’ve been working on it. But also make me more athletic for first base, too. That was his thought process.”
Eldridge hasn’t played the outfield since 2023, when he appeared in 26 games in right field shortly after making his professional debut with the Giants. Eldridge didn’t take particularly well to the position back then, which ultimately compelled the organization to focus on developing him as a first baseman.
“I never really got a chance to get comfortable out there,” Eldridge said. “But I never played in high school, so for what it’s worth, I felt comfortable enough. Obviously, it probably wasn’t pretty. You can ask the Low-A coaches if it was pretty or not. I feel like I did a good job.”
Eldridge still profiles as a first baseman/DH for now, so he’ll have to produce with the bat to bolster his odds of winning a spot on the Opening Day roster this spring. He batted only .107 (3-for-28) with 13 strikeouts over his 10-game stint with the Giants last year, but he regularly hammered the ball and didn’t look overmatched at the plate.
“I felt like I belonged,” Eldridge said. “It was a great experience. It was a great experience just to get my feet wet up there. I think even being here in spring, the sense of comfort is huge. That was huge for me. Obviously, it didn’t go perfectly. But I hit the ball hard. I did what I was supposed to do. I had way worse stretches in my Minor League season than I did when I was in the big leagues, so I think it would have all panned out if I had 500 at-bats. But it was a great experience for me.”
The Giants believe Eldridge has the potential to anchor their lineup for years to come, but they’ll have the ability to stay patient with their young power hitter given the presence of Devers and newcomer Luis Arraez, who is expected to play second base but could serve as the DH if he becomes too much of a defensive liability.
Vitello and president of baseball operations Buster Posey both noted that Eldridge is still early in his career and needs to take steps forward in all aspects of his game, so it’s possible that they could prefer to have him open the season back at Triple-A Sacramento this year.
“I think he's on a journey to truly become the best version of himself,” Vitello said. “It's amazing that he was able to accomplish what he did last year, but for right now, I think he's just got to mature as a player.”