Giants' Bryce Eldridge Embraces Veteran Advice to 'Be Yourself'

The 21-year-old first baseman is focused on developing his game and not trying to be someone he's not.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 12:37am

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San Francisco Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge, a 6-foot-7 first baseman, is taking to heart the advice from veteran teammates Willy Adames and Matt Chapman to 'be yourself' as he enters his second major league spring training. Eldridge, the 16th overall pick in the 2023 draft, made his MLB debut last September and is looking to build on that experience while staying grounded in his faith and family.

Why it matters

Eldridge is one of the tallest position players in MLB, and as a highly touted prospect, he faces high expectations to perform. The advice from the veteran players underscores the importance of Eldridge staying true to his own strengths and not trying to be someone he's not, which can be a challenge for young players adjusting to the big leagues.

The details

Eldridge, 21, made his MLB debut with the Giants last September, going 3-for-28 with two doubles and 13 strikeouts over 10 games. He's trying to soak in everything this spring training and not put too much pressure on himself. Giants manager Tony Vitello praised Eldridge's willingness to learn and said his teammates have done a good job of providing advice and looking after him.

  • Eldridge was selected 16th overall in the 2023 MLB draft.
  • Eldridge made his MLB debut on September 15, 2025.
  • Eldridge is entering his second major league spring training in 2026.

The players

Bryce Eldridge

A 21-year-old first baseman for the San Francisco Giants, selected 16th overall in the 2023 MLB draft.

Willy Adames

A veteran infielder for the San Francisco Giants who provided advice to Eldridge.

Matt Chapman

A veteran infielder for the San Francisco Giants who provided advice to Eldridge.

Buster Posey

The president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants.

Tony Vitello

The manager of the San Francisco Giants.

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What they’re saying

“They were just saying, 'be yourself, don't try to be anyone else.' I think that was a good message to me. If I try and do more, I'm a power guy, I'm not going to wow anyone on the basepaths. I'm going to make the plays at first. If I try to be a slap hitter or bunt, I'm going to try and be myself, not go outside of that and not compare myself to others. I think that'll keep me in a good space.”

— Bryce Eldridge, Giants First Baseman

“He takes it all in. I think for a kid who was drafted where he was drafted and all that, he could approach things differently with his teammates and kind of be like, 'I got it,' but he seems to be wanting to soak up information. When you're like that, then people want to go to you even more, and so I think all of his teammates do a good job of looking after him and providing advice.”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

What’s next

Buster Posey has not definitively stated where Eldridge will start the 2026 season, but he may begin the year at Triple-A Sacramento to gain more experience before joining the Giants' major league roster.

The takeaway

Eldridge's willingness to listen to veteran advice and stay grounded in his faith and family shows a maturity beyond his years, which should serve him well as he navigates the high expectations that come with being a top prospect in the Giants' organization.