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Bryce Eldridge, the Giants’ 2023 first-round draft pick and top prospect, had six extra-base hits, produced an .830 OPS, and showcased improved defense throughout a spring that left Buster Posey, Tony Vitello, and Eldridge’s veteran teammates excited about his future.
The key word: future.
The Giants optioned Eldridge to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, ending his quest for an Opening Day roster spot. The first baseman, 21, should help the major league club this season, but with 19 strikeouts in 40 Cactus League at-bats, he’ll need to cut his whiff rate before returning to Oracle Park.
The club also sent Tyler Fitzgerald, the 2025 Opening Day second baseman, and Grant McCray, a speedy and versatile outfielder, back to minor league camp. The moves followed an announcement that right-hander Hayden Birdsong, one of the Giants’ most promising homegrown pitchers, will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the season.
The transactions provide a clearer picture of how the Giants will open the season. Without Eldridge vying for a job, Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss are expected to be the backup infielders.
The outfield is a bit more jumbled, as Jerar Encarnación and Luis Matos are out of options and would be designated for assignment if they’re left off the Opening Day roster. Neither has forced his way onto the team, but neither has played his way off of it either, and the Giants would likely prefer to keep at least one left-handed bench bat.
The candidates? Will Brennan, who is hitting .314 with an .785 OPS, and Drew Gilbert, a Vitello favorite from Tennessee who dealt with a shoulder injury that set him back early in the spring.
The Giants could easily select either Encarnación or Matos as a right-handed bench option and either Brennan or Gilbert to provide depth from the left side of the plate, but Posey has other outfielders to consider, too.
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No player has had a better spring than prospect Victor Bericoto, the 24-year-old outfielder hitting .474 with a team-high three homers and 1.264 OPS. Experience isn’t on Bericoto’s side, as he only has 46 Triple-A at-bats. Then there’s Jared Oliva, 30, who hasn’t played in the big leagues since 2021 but possesses overwhelming speed that can change a game.
Here’s a prediction: The Giants will keep Matos, Encarnación, and Brennan, option Gilbert, and send Bericoto and Oliva – neither of whom have 40-man roster spots – to Sacramento before Opening Day.
That would leave them with 14 position players, 12 pitchers, and a few extra days to determine who will get sent packing when they inevitably need a 13th arm.
That plan might be the safest strategy, and the one that preserves the most depth. Then again, Posey prefers to be bold. He wasn’t ready to roll with Eldridge, but he might find a path to surprise Giants fans anyway.
Will the Giants promote Eldridge to the MLB roster by June 1? Let us know your prediction in the comments, a new feature exclusively for SF Standard members.