Bryce Eldridge has proven that he is the truth with an impressive 2026 MLB season, and the advanced metrics show the rookie is in elite company early in his career.
Bryce Eldridge this season:
443 PA | 12.9 BB% | .465 SLG | 131 wRC+
The only other players since 1983 to put up those numbers in their age-21 or younger season:
2013 Mike Trout
2013 Bryce Harper
2018-2019 Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/fp8SFKPWOa
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 16, 2026
In 443 plate appearances, the Virginia native has a 12.9 BB%, along with a .465 SLG and 131 wRC+. The only other hitters since 1983 to do so before turning 22 years of age include Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and Juan Soto.
Eldridge is on his way to becoming one of the star left-handed hitters in baseball. Eldridge has 28 RBI in his last 28 games dating back to Aug. 14, along with 17 home runs in 106 games this season.
His confidence has grown as the season continues, and he has caught the attention of legendary broadcaster Mike Krukow.
“He’s been elevated into the centerpiece of that lineup,” Krukow said on “The Murph and Markus Show”. “He’s showing his confidence. Everybody sees why this guy is successful. It rubs off; it makes everybody better.”
Tuesday night in St. Louis, Eldridge sat on an off-speed pitch and drove it 461 feet into right-center field at Busch Stadium.
Eldridge has quietly put together one of the most impressive rookie years in all of baseball this season. The young power hitter has the seventh-most home runs in a season at age 21 or younger in Giants history with 17.
If Eldridge’s career comes anywhere close to those of Trout, Harper or Soto, Giants fans will be thrilled with the decision to draft the 6-foot-7 lefty.
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