Giants Call Up Bryce Eldridge Amid Struggles

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants promoted 21-year-old first baseman Bryce Eldridge on Monday, adding one of baseball’s top prospects to a lineup that’s been struggling significantly this season.

“He’s confident in his work,” commented Tony Vitello, manager of the 13-21 team. “That’s what I think.”

Currently, the Giants sit at the bottom of the league in runs scored. Over their last nine games, they didn’t manage a single win and also rank last in walks and home runs.

This is quite a challenge for Eldridge, who stands tall at 6 feet 7 inches. There are expectations riding on him to help change the team’s fortunes.

Speaking to a small group of reporters, Eldridge jokingly remarked, “Right now, when I’m at bat, I feel sexy,” while standing by his locker with the number 8 jersey hanging nearby.

After being sent to Triple-A at the end of spring training, Eldridge has shown good contact ability, much like his teammate, Jesus Rodriguez. Both were put on the roster and started for Monday’s game against the Padres. Trevor McDonald was also recalled for a spot start.

In conjunction with these moves, the Giants designated Gerard Encarnacion for assignment, optioned Will Brennan to Triple-A, and placed left-hander Eric Miller on injured reserve.

Miller, who is considered one of the team’s key relievers, might be out for at least 15 days due to a recurring back issue, according to Vitello.

Rodriguez, who can play second base and left field, even made his major league debut as a catcher. Acquired from the Yankees last summer, Rodriguez has maintained a batting average over .300 in his minor league seasons and is currently hitting .330 with an .840 OPS this year.

“That guy puts his bat on the ball quite a bit,” Eldridge noted. “I really enjoy hitting behind him.”

This season, Rodriguez has more walks (12) than strikeouts (11), while Eldridge, despite a higher strikeout rate of nearly 30% in Triple-A, has improved his walk rate to 15.3%. The Giants collectively have 69 walks in 34 games, which is significantly fewer than the next team up, placing them on track for the lowest total in over a century.

Eldridge attributes some of his perseverance to a collaborative mindset. He recorded a .333 batting average, .445 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .963 in Triple-A. The Giants’ team on-base percentage is tied for the worst in the majors at .287.

“For me, getting walks is crucial,” he shared. “As a power hitter, I’m beginning to understand that pitchers are more inclined to pitch around me instead of challenging me directly. Yes, strikeouts come with the territory of being a power hitter, but if I can get on base more, I think it’ll balance things out.”

Interestingly, the group that brought in Eldridge is still looking for their first home run in over a week and has only managed 19 home runs this season, remaining the only team with fewer than 20. The team has faced slumps from key players like Rafael Devers and Willie Adams, so any sort of offensive boost is welcomed.

Casey Schmidt has been the Giants’ most effective hitter, and Vitello will need to consider how to utilize Schmidt, Eldridge, Adams, Devers, and third baseman Matt Chapman. On Monday night, Chapman was rested, with Schmidt at third and Eldridge as the designated hitter. Although Vitello mentioned the possibility of using Schmidt in the outfield, it’s worth noting he hasn’t played there at the major league level yet.

While Coach Vitello hesitated to label Eldridge as an everyday player just yet, he emphasized the importance of giving both Eldridge and Rodriguez ample opportunities rather than sporadic roles.

“He needs room to make mistakes,” Vitello commented. “I need to give him a longer leash.”