Bryce Eldridge has turned what looked like a straightforward development path into one of the Giants’ biggest lineup questions heading into 2027.
The young slugger’s September 2025 debut with San Francisco came with plenty of buzz, and the expectations only climbed from there. He was not among the reasons the Giants’ 2026 season fell short. Even while learning on the fly against major league pitching, Eldridge finished with a .269/.364/.461 slash line, 17 home runs, 57 RBI and an .825 OPS in 107 games.
For a 22-year-old with very limited MLB experience, that’s a promising line. And the way he closed the year made the case even stronger. Over his final 30 games, Eldridge hit .321 with five homers, 28 RBI and a .418 on-base percentage.
That production leaves the Giants with the kind of problem every team wants: too many good bats, not enough obvious spots.
The complication is Rafael Devers, who arrived in San Francisco during the 2025 season in a trade with the Boston Red Sox. The Giants wanted another offensive force who could lengthen the lineup, and Devers brings that. He also plays first base and designated hitter - the same two spots Eldridge occupies.
On paper, the fix looks simple enough: split the time and keep both in the lineup. In practice, it may take more work than that. Devers offers veteran stability and proven offense, but he is also coming back from core muscle surgery and still needs to work his way into being an everyday contributor again.
Eldridge, meanwhile, still has defensive development ahead of him. Giving him consistent reps at first base could help him build rhythm there while continuing to grow into a complete big leaguer.
That leaves manager Tony Vitello with a balancing act: sort through the defensive needs, account for Devers’ recovery, and still put the strongest possible lineup on the field.
The Giants need both hitters. They also need both to get meaningful defensive chances.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey believes the bigger picture could arrive quickly. At the end-of-season press conference, he said, “If you’re asking, ‘Do you think we can contend next year?’
I do. I do believe that we can.”
That confidence stands in contrast to a 65-97 finish, and plenty would have to go right for the Giants to move into that conversation. The pitching staff is a major part of that picture, and younger players will need to keep taking steps forward.
Eldridge belongs in that group. His 2026 season showed he can help at the major league level, and 2027 will tell the Giants whether he can keep producing at that pace.
As spring training approaches, Posey and the organization will have to settle on a plan that keeps Eldridge in the everyday lineup without shortchanging Devers. Whether Eldridge becomes the primary first baseman or shares the job remains in the hands of the coaching staff as they keep evaluating.
Devers was a major investment. Eldridge is a development win that’s starting to pay off. The Giants now have a chance to get value from both, and making that work ought to be near the top of the to-do list for 2027.
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