Bryce Eldridge’s September call-up created excitement in the final chapter of another disappointing Giants campaign, but will the young slugger be featured in San Francisco’s plans for the 2026 MLB season?

Giants general manager Zack Minasian revealed that nothing is set in stone in regards to Eldridge, with San Francisco’s top prospect’s placement next season largely being dependent on how the roster shapes up around him.

“I don’t think there’s any guarantee,” Miniasian told Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher on KNBR’s “Murph & Markus.” “As we go into next year it will be about what is available. I think his role as things have evolved here over the past week, he has gotten some first base, he has DH’d, he gets [Rafael Devers] off his feet. I think long term, that’s probably what we envision as far as those two being able to split time.”

While Eldridge’s traditional box score stats since joining the Giants don’t jump off the screen, the 20-year-old slugger still has made quite an impression on Minasian and the front office. Minasian highlighted Eldridge’s glove, exit velocity and patience at the plate as reasons for optimism that the highly touted prospect can blossom into an elite MLB player as he continues to develop.

“It’s been encouraging to see Bryce’s defense. He made a nice play [Wednesday], had the big diving catch on the line drive in LA,” Minsasian said. “He’s seeing the ball well, he’s not chasing, he’s hitting it hard. Those are things that usually — it’s not just hard hit, it’s up there at the very top. When you put those things together it really is a nice foundation for a really good offensive player.”

Minasian and the Giants are keen on more than just the player on the field, as Eldridge’s personality and mindset have also won over the hearts of San Francisco’s front office.

“The other thing is too, we’re excited about the person,” Minasian said. “He’s cogniscent of his surroundings, he wants to be the best player he can be. Just a super respectful young man and works really hard. The intangibles are there as well as the skills and tools.”

Eldridge is slashing .125/.300/.208 in 24 at-bats since being called up by the Giants on Sept. 14, but has reached base five times via the walk in that span, a testament to the plate discipling he possesses already at the age of 20.

It’s important to note that Eldridge’s rapid ascencion saw him promoted twice this season, after starting the 2025 campaign with the Giants’ Double-A affiliate Richmond Flying Squirrels. The time for adjusting to new surroundings must be accounted for, which seemingly is why Minasian and the Giants are more focused on what they’re seeing with the eye test rather than deferring to Eldridge’s box score stats.

Whether or not we see Eldridge start the 2026 season with the big league club remains to be seen, but there certainly appears to be reason for optimism the towering slugger will be there when the Giants open the MLB slate against the New York Yankees next march.

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