The San Francisco Giants' postseason hopes continue to fade. Under first-year manager Tony Vitello, they are 31-43 and 7.5 games back from a wild-card spot. San Francisco is trending toward a fifth straight season without a postseason appearance.
However, 21-year-old first baseman Bryce Eldridge is still giving fans a reason to watch. He has appeared in 33 games this season, accumulating 19 runs scored, 36 hits, six home runs, 16 RBIs and 17 walks in 113 at-bats. He is also slashing .319/.405/.558 with a .963 OPS.
Eldridge is quickly becoming a star for the Giants. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, he has the third-best odds (+600) of being named the National League Rookie of the Year.
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He continues to rise in the batting order as well. Over the past five games, the rookie has hit in the No. 2 hole four times. However, during an appearance on "The Murph & Markus Show," Vitello hinted that the Giants have considered putting Eldridge in the leadoff spot.
“He’s too good,” Vitello said. “He’s ready to take on any responsibility you want to give him. As a guy who can drive the ball out of the park, but also draw a walk, move runners, and put together a complete at-bat, it only makes sense to try and get him as many at-bats as possible in the lineup. We even flirted with talking about the one-spot.”
It would be a new experience for Eldridge. This season, he has recorded at-bats hitting second (16), third (four), fifth (12), sixth (35), seventh (45) and eighth (one). However, he has yet to bat first.
As the Giants navigate the 2026 MLB season, Eldridge's continued development could lead to a more permanent position at the top of the order.
