Giants' Top Prospect Bryce Eldridge Sent Down to Triple-A

Eldridge says he struggled with his swing after offseason wrist surgery, but is focused on getting comfortable at the plate again with Sacramento

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:19am by Ben Kaplan

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Bryce Eldridge, the San Francisco Giants' top prospect, was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento after a tough spring training where he struck out 19 times in 50 plate appearances and batted just .225. Eldridge says he never felt comfortable at the plate, attributing it to lingering effects from offseason wrist surgery. He's now focused on regaining his confidence and shortening his swing with the River Cats.

Why it matters

Eldridge is considered a key part of the Giants' future, with his power potential seen as a major boost to their lineup. His struggles in spring training, however, led the team to send him down to the minors to work on his swing and approach. How Eldridge responds and performs in Triple-A will be closely watched, as the Giants hope to see him make an impact at the big league level later this season.

The details

Eldridge said he never felt right at the plate in spring training, striking out 38% of the time. He attributes this to lingering effects from October wrist surgery to remove a bone spur. Eldridge didn't start swinging again until late December, leaving him little time to get his swing back before camp. He noticed his swing was too long, causing him to 'dump the barrel' instead of moving straight to the ball. The Giants opted to send the 21-year-old to Triple-A Sacramento to work on shortening his swing and regaining his confidence.

  • Eldridge had wrist surgery in October 2025.
  • He didn't start swinging again until late December 2025.
  • Eldridge was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento three days before Giants' spring training camp broke.

The players

Bryce Eldridge

The San Francisco Giants' top prospect, a 21-year-old first baseman with significant power potential.

Tony Vitello

The manager of the San Francisco Giants.

Ron Washington

The Giants' infield guru who worked with Eldridge on improving his defense at first base.

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What they’re saying

“I think they wanted to see me go in there with more of an attitude and maybe they thought I didn't have that this spring.”

— Bryce Eldridge

“From early on, I didn't have an offseason to work on anything. I started swinging right before I came to Arizona. I wasn't hitting off a machine or arm until I was out here.”

— Bryce Eldridge

“Obviously it's not the end of the world that I'm here at 21 years old. I definitely am going to have a big impact on that team this year.”

— Bryce Eldridge

What’s next

The Giants will monitor Eldridge's progress in Triple-A, with the hope that he can make an impact on the major league club later this season.

The takeaway

Eldridge's struggles in spring training highlight the challenges young prospects can face when returning from injury, but the Giants remain high on his long-term potential. His ability to make adjustments and regain his confidence in Triple-A will be crucial as he looks to establish himself as a key part of the Giants' future.