SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants fans have been hearing about Bryce Eldridge’s prodigious power ever since the 6-foot-7 slugger was selected with the 16th overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft.
They finally got to see that pop show up in the Majors for the first time on Saturday.
Eldridge launched a 101 mph, 364-foot solo shot out to right field to collect his first career home run in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Giants’ game against the Pirates on Saturday night at Oracle Park.
Pittsburgh right-hander Braxton Ashcraft tried to go in on Eldridge’s hands with a first-pitch fastball, but the Giants’ No. 1 prospect (No. 17 overall per MLB Pipeline) managed to yank the 96.2 mph offering over the Levi’s Landing wall and bounce it into McCovey Cove for the milestone blast.
It was the type of offensive boost the Giants hoped to receive when they promoted Eldridge from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday.
The 21-year-old went only 3-for-28 (.107) with 13 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances during his first cup of coffee with the Giants last September, but he got off to a hot start at Sacramento this season, where he hit .333 with a .963 OPS, five home runs and 22 RBIs over his first 30 games.