As reported, Bryce Eldridge is being called up by the Giants for the last 13 games of this season. The loss of Dom Smith, for at least the rest of the regular season, if not more, opened up the possibility of calling Eldridge up and Posey made the call after the Giants struggled all weekend trying to score on the Dodgers, who won 2 of 3, and was close to sweeping. Luis Matos was sent down to open up a MLB 26-man roster space, and Wisely was DFAed to open up a 40-man spot.
ogc thoughts
This obviously will be very interesting to Giants fans. The team could use a boost, and this call up should provide a shot in the arm. How big a shot is the question.
I have no idea if he’s ready to field 1B, but since Devers has acclimated to 1B, Eldridge could be the DH full time while he’s up here. He probably sees starts at both 1B and DH, I would think, once he acclimates to things. He likely will be platooned with Flores for now, but if he starts out hot, I assume the Giants will let him face LHP.
How will he hit is the biggest question. Many point out his 30% strikeouts rate, but they neglect to mention that he’s also hitting homers every 13 AB, which works about to a 50+ seasonal HR rate. I think the team can probably accept a 30-40% strikeout rate in the majors if he’s at a more modest 30 homerun pace (every 20 AB).
And as many top young prospects do, they get better with experience at a new level. In his last 22 games in AAA, he has hit .273/.356/.557/.913 with 6 homers in 88 AB (homer every 13 games) and a 27% strikeout rate, and 69% contact rate. This is a higher batting line than when he started in AAA, and lower strikeout rate, giving some optimism that he can handle MLB pitching.
And as NBC noted in one of their articles, Giants first baseman overall did not hit all that well, so Eldridge has a low bar to beat. And this is even with Dom Smith’s good hitting, which could not counteract how bad LaMonte Wade Jr was at first base. But I would compare more with Smith, who hit .283/.333/.417/.750, because the Giants are looking to be like their offense recently, and not the paucity of scoring through most of the season.
Also, this is probably as comfortable a situation for him, as the Giants are playing Arizona for three games, and he’s been in the Giants Arizona complex before, and likely have seen this park before. Also, their park is a hitter’s park, which should improve his chances for hits, and start off with confidence. And the DBacks have been having pitching issues, due to injuries, and is making do with lesser pitching.
Go Eldridge!!! Go Giants!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment