Not long ago, Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow was questioning whether or not San Francisco’s top prospect Bryce Eldridge should remain on the big league roster.
On Wednesday, before the Giants’ 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Krukow was humming a different tune when he joined KNBR.
“There was a time I thought he should have been sent down, but I certainly don’t feel that way now,” Krukow explained on “Murph and Markus.” “I think his at-bats have been fantastic.”
The 21-year-old was playing minimal time, failing to get a rhythm with his at-bats and was just two for his last 15.
Prior to his 0-for-2 performance Wednesday, Eldridge was 6-for-21 in his last six games. But not only the numbers, but the nuances – like an at-bat against Arizona’s Merrill Kelly on Monday where the rookie worked his way into a walk his third time facing the right-hander — have Krukow changing his beliefs about the first baseman.
“I don’t think he’s ever going back down,” Krukow said. “What I’m seeing right now at the plate, he’s confident. He’s projecting confidence, he’s taking tough pitches, he’s working counts, getting counts in his favor, and he’s making some loud contact. Everything about the guy excites me and I’m really looking forward to his at-bats now.”
Following today’s game, Eldridge has now played in five of the last six Giants games.
The team might be 1-4 in those appearances, but the reps are the important factor for a future key cog of the franchise.
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