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James Madison High School graduate Bryce Eldridge is back in the major leagues as the San Francisco Giants search for a way to revive their struggling offense.
The Giants recalled their top prospect from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, May 4. Eldridge started at designated hitter and batted seventh, going 0 for 2 with a walk in San Francisco’s 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Although Eldridge did not homer, Casey Schmitt ended the Giants’ power drought with a first-inning long ball. San Francisco had gone without a home run during an 0-6 road trip through Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, the franchise’s first homerless trip of at least six games since 2008.
Eldridge starred as both a hitter and pitcher at Madison, helping the Warhawks win two state championships. San Francisco selected him with the 16th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
This is the 21-year-old first baseman and designated hitter’s second stint in the majors. He batted .107, going 3 for 28 with four RBIs, 13 strikeouts and seven walks across 10 games for the Giants last year.
His latest promotion followed a productive start with Sacramento. In 30 Pacific Coast League games, Eldridge hit .333 with five home runs, 22 RBIs, a .518 slugging percentage and a .963 OPS.
San Francisco entered Monday batting .243 as a team, with disappointing production spread throughout the lineup. Luis Arraez and Schmitt were the roster’s only hitters above .300, each batting .308, while Schmitt was the only Giant with more than three home runs.
Several established players were also below expectations. Rafael Devers was hitting .214 with 43 strikeouts, Willy Adames was at .195, Matt Chapman was batting .246 with one home run, and Patrick Bailey had a .152 average and one homer.
The Giants made several additional roster moves, promoting pitcher Trevor McDonald and catcher Jesús Rodriguez from Sacramento. Outfielder Jerar Encarnacion was designated for assignment, reliever Erik Miller went on the 15-day injured list with a back strain, and outfielder Will Brennan was optioned to Sacramento.
Other players with Fairfax County ties are also progressing through the professional and college ranks. Centreville’s Jonny Farmelo, chosen by the Seattle Mariners in the same draft as Eldridge, is in his second season with the High-A Everett AquaSox.
South Lakes graduate James Quinn-Irons, drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays last year, is playing for the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs. McLean’s Griffin Stieg was selected by Seattle but chose to continue his career at Virginia Tech instead of signing.