Bryce Eldridge’s Journey Through the MLB

DENVER — Bryce Eldridge hasn’t unleashed his emotions on the baseball field in quite some time. The last time was probably when he was, what, 9 or 10? He was pitching in a Little League all-star game, and, well, it didn’t go as he hoped.

In a chat with a local outlet, Eldridge recalled, “I lost because I didn’t pitch well, so I was completely depressed.” He added, “For lack of a better word, I was just angry on the field. That memory still lingers, you know? I was really embarrassed. And my dad was upset. Those early experiences can really shape who you become, right?”

But it’s not like he’s without frustration now, either.

Interestingly, despite his recent struggles, he’s sensed an uptick in his batting performance. Even if he appears calm on the surface.

“He’s so composed; you never see him throw a bat or get upset,” he said, nodding to outfielder Heriot Ramos, who also faced a similar learning curve. “This is all about mental strength… That’s probably how he feels. Frustrated, because we’re just human. But he manages his emotions really well.”

Every scouting report on recent opponents highlights Eldridge’s ability to hit fastballs. The issue? He’s found himself up against soft pitches that exploit his weaknesses. This has led to one of the roughest slumps of his young career.

As of Saturday’s game against the Rockies at Coors Field, it had been five games since he walked, marking his longest stretch so far. Over the last 12 games, he’s only batting .163 (7 hits in 43 at-bats), with a .475 OPS.

Striking out 16 times in that span gives you a sense of the challenges he’s facing, matching the total from his previous 23 games.

But there’s hope. Eldridge is set to make adjustments and regain his footing.

“It’s sort of a fun cat-and-mouse game,” hitting coach Hunter Mense shared. “The more they start attacking you, the more you need to understand their strategy. He’s clever enough to figure it out.”

Although he’s not yet 22, Eldridge has a maturity beyond his years, which Mense sometimes finds surprising, recalling that he might still be closer to those awkward Little League days than to the end of his career.

“Sometimes I catch myself wondering if he really knows what to do,” Mense admitted. “As coaches, we sometimes hesitate to have those conversations because we assume they might already know.”

This year, Eldridge is also focused on understanding how pitchers approach him. Now, before every at-bat, he consults with Mense in the dugout.

“I go up to Hunter and ask, ‘What did you see?’ He shares what he observed before and what he anticipates,” Eldridge explained. “Every time I check in with him, I like that it keeps my strategies fresh.”

Lately, breaking balls and off-speed pitches have been becoming more common.

In May, fastballs accounted for 51.6% of his pitches. By June, that reduced to 47.1%, with more curveballs and sliders on the rise (about 41.6%).

Recently, many fastballs he’s encountered have come in the strike zone, but he’s been caught adjusting to the pitchers’ strategies and swinging at breaking pitches instead.

“A lot of off-speed and challenging fastballs,” he noted with some frustration. “I believe it’s a mix of slower pitches aimed at throwing me off. Unfortunately, it’s been happening more. I think it’s affecting my results.”

His recent matchups against the Diamondbacks have been particularly tough. While he’s typically reluctant to ask teammates for advice, he sought insight from Rafael Devers, who similarly made his debut at a young age.

“There were quite a few infuriating at-bats, so I asked Raffi, ‘What do you think?’” Eldridge recounted. “He advised me to ‘move in the box, dance with the pitcher, stay in rhythm, and keep battling. There are plenty of at-bats and many games ahead.’”

In a recent game, out of the 25 fastballs he faced, most were either out of the zone or difficult to hit. The remaining pitches were slow and deceptive.

He managed to go 1-for-5 in the final game of the series, connecting with a knuckle curve but struggling on the other pitches he faced. He fell into the pitcher’s trap on a low changeup, leading to a strikeout.

In his last at-bat, he faced just three pitches, culminating in a tough hat trick.

Even though the Giants secured their first win in nine attempts against Arizona, Eldridge couldn’t shake off his disappointment.

“I was excited about how I was feeling, and I guess that’s a bit selfish,” he admitted.

Yet, he wasn’t ready to express the emotions he felt back on that Little League field in northern Virginia. Now, it’s all about putting in the work.

“I still remember that day,” Eldridge said. “I won’t show that kind of emotion on the field again.”