SAN FRANCISCO — With an MLB playoff spot on the line, the Giants are hoping their top prospect can help get them over the finish line.
First baseman Bryce Eldridge officially has been called up by the Giants, the team announced Monday.
The 20-year-old Eldridge is batting fifth and will serve as the designated hitter in his MLB debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday at Chase Field.
A source confirmed the news of Eldridge’s promotion to NBC Sports Bay Area on Sunday night. It’s the final step in a meteoric rise for the 2023 first-round draft pick, who will debut a few weeks before his 21st birthday. The move first was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser.
To make room for Eldridge on the roster, outfielder Luis Matos was optioned to Triple-A and infielder Brett Wiseley was designated for assignment.
Eldridge has an .836 OPS in Triple-A this season, with 18 homers in 66 games. He has 25 homers in 100 games across two levels this season, consistently showing the kind of power that has made him one of the top prospects in the minor leagues.
The Giants had hoped all along that Eldridge could spend the entire season in Triple-A and then compete for a big league job next spring, but the math changed over the weekend when Dominic Smith strained his hamstring and went on the IL. They struggled offensively in back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers, failing to make up ground in the Wild Card race.
It’s unclear how the Giants will use Eldridge initially. Long term, they anticipate him splitting time at first base and DH with Rafael Devers, but for now, the lineup could use a boost.
The Giants likely will face five right-handed starters in seven days on this upcoming road trip, providing a nice landing spot for Eldridge, who has said since the spring that he wanted to debut in 2025.
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