Sometimes a rough season leaves behind one bright piece the team can build around, and for the SF Giants, Bryce Eldridge looks like that kind of player.
Retiring Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow recently drew a line from Eldridge to Will Clark, and the comparison carries some weight if Eldridge keeps moving in the same direction. On KNBR, Krukow said, “You look at the numbers Will Clark had in 1986 in his rookie year and take a look at what Eldridge has done…there are a lot of similarities to it.”
The numbers back up why that caught attention. In 1986, Clark played 111 games and hit .287/.343/.444 with 11 home runs and 41 runs batted in.
In 2026, Eldridge has put together a .269/.364/.461 line with 17 homers and 57 runs batted in over 107 games. The exact stats don’t match, but both players used their rookie seasons to show they belonged and hinted at much more to come.
In Eldridge’s case, the production suggests the ceiling might be even higher.
Clark turned that promise into a monster follow-up year. In 1987, he hit .308/.371/.580 with 35 home runs and 91 runs batted in.
The Giants finished 90-72 and fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven-game NLCS.
That’s the kind of jump San Francisco can only dream about from Eldridge in 2027. If the season ends up being a full 162 games - even with the looming lockout potentially threatening that - he’d have a shot at 30 home runs. He’s already shown power to all fields, and another year of big league experience should only sharpen his feel for how to succeed at this level.
The idea of Eldridge in the middle of a lineup with Rafael Devers is already appealing, especially since the two were dangerous when they were paired this season. If both keep doing damage, they could anchor the Giants’ offense for a while.
It may be too early to talk about Eldridge following Clark all the way to jersey-retirement territory, but Krukow seeing the resemblance says plenty. Eldridge has also made it clear he wants to be remembered among the greatest players in Giants history.
For the Giants, the hope is simple: Eldridge makes a leap in 2027, the kind that looks a little like Clark’s rise four decades ago, and helps lead the club to its first winning season since 2021.
In Other News...
Giants May Have Quietly Solved A Daniel Susac Roster Problem
Daniel Susacs lost 2023 season still carried an important roster consequence for the Giants, even after the left knee patella fracture ended his year. Because he spent enough time on the active roster as a Rule 5 draft pick, San Francisco cleared the service-time hurdle needed to ease the usual Rule 5 restrictions, a small bookkeeping detail with a long shelf life.
Starting in 2027, the Giants can treat Susac like any other 40-man player instead of worrying about the special Rule 5 clock attached to him. In practical terms, that gives the club far more flexibility and control over his future, with team control stretching through at least 2031, which is exactly the kind of quiet roster win front offices value even when it barely registers at the time. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Prospect Jonah Cox Is Forcing A Real Roster Debate
Jonah Cox has spent this season turning raw athleticism into a real argument for the Giants future. The rookie outfielder has already led the club in stolen bases despite limited games played, and his speed has not been the only thing catching attention. His defensive range and ability to move around the outfield have given San Francisco another layer of flexibility, while his aggressive baserunning has stood out enough that coaches have taken notice.
For a Giants roster still sorting out how best to build for next spring, Cox is no longer just a promising name in the system. He is making a case for a spot on the Opening Day roster, and it is a case built on more than one tool. Speed can be fleeting in prospect talk, but when it comes with real impact on the bases and in the field, it starts to create a tougher decision than the club probably expected. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Still Have One Outfield Problem To Solve This Winter
The Giants outfield remains one of the more unsettled parts of the roster heading into the winter, even after a season that showed some signs of improvement. San Francisco was still near the bottom of several defensive metrics in 2025, a reminder that the group has not fully recovered from last years issues, and the clubs decision to bring in Harrison Bader last offseason did not deliver the kind of stabilizing presence it was hoping for. He appeared in only 30 games, leaving the Giants with less certainty than they expected in a spot that was supposed to be strengthened.
There is at least a brighter note in center field, where contributions from Drew Gilbert and Jonah Cox helped the team move in a better direction. The problem is that the corners remain a different story, and that is where the Giants still have work to do. With possible positional shifts on the table and more attempts to upgrade likely ahead, the front office is still staring at one outfield issue that has not gone away. [Read more 🡒]