The San Francisco Giants kicked off their Fan Fest tour in San Jose on Saturday, and while the event was meant to bring fans closer to the team, it also delivered a bit of news that’s sure to spark some chatter: top prospect Bryce Eldridge has a new jersey number for the 2026 season - and it’s a familiar one.
Eldridge was spotted donning No. 8, a number that instantly rings a bell for Giants fans who remember the passionate, high-energy presence of Hunter Pence. Pence wore that number during his memorable run with San Francisco, becoming a fan favorite and a key piece of multiple postseason runs. So when a top prospect like Eldridge grabs that number, it naturally turns heads.
But here’s the twist: Eldridge didn’t choose No. 8 to honor Pence. According to reports, the 6-foot-7 slugger picked the number as a nod to two of his childhood sports idols - NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Both athletes wear No. 8, and both were major figures in Eldridge’s formative years growing up in Virginia.
That hometown connection runs deep. Eldridge has previously shared that he was a die-hard Washington Nationals fan and idolized Bryce Harper.
In fact, he openly admitted he couldn’t stand the Giants back in 2014 - a direct result of San Francisco knocking out the Nats in the NLDS. That’s the beauty of baseball, though.
Fast forward to 2026, and Eldridge is now one of the Giants' most exciting young players, fully bought into the organization and its vision for the future.
Last season, Eldridge got his first taste of big-league action, appearing briefly at the end of the year. He wore No. 78 during that stint - a number that always felt like a placeholder.
No. 8 feels more fitting for a player of his stature and potential. It’s a number that comes with expectations, but also with opportunity.
The Giants appear committed to giving Eldridge a real shot this spring. While there were whispers of trade talks earlier in the offseason, the current plan seems to be a timeshare between Eldridge and Rafael Devers at first base and designated hitter.
How that shakes out will depend heavily on Eldridge’s performance in camp. But the good news?
He’s expected to be fully healthy when spring training opens.
Eldridge underwent wrist surgery during the offseason, but he’s said he’ll be 100 percent by the time camp begins. That’s a big deal for a player whose power potential is one of his calling cards.
In his limited MLB action last year, he managed just three hits in 28 at-bats, but when he connected, the ball jumped off his bat. That raw power is still very much part of his profile - and with a clean bill of health, he’ll have a chance to show it off.
Interestingly, despite his pedigree, Eldridge wasn’t mentioned by MLB executives as a potential NL Rookie of the Year candidate. That could serve as fuel for a player who’s already shown he plays with a bit of an edge. He’s got the size, the bat speed, and now the motivation.
And while jersey numbers don’t win games, they do carry weight - especially in a city like San Francisco, where fans remember who wore what and how they played. Eldridge stepping into No. 8 brings a bit of nostalgia, a bit of swagger, and a whole lot of intrigue. If he can bring even a fraction of the energy Hunter Pence brought to the ballpark, the Giants - and their fans - are in for something special.