February 13, 2026

First baseman Bryce Eldridge is MLB Pipeline's No. 12 prospect and the San Francisco Giants' No. 1 prospect. Eldridge is a 6-foot-7, 240-pound slugger with light tower power to all fields. As a 20-year-old in Triple-A, he hit one of his 18 home runs 470 feet while posting an average exit velocity of 95.7 mph. Unfortunately, he strikes out way too much. In Triple-A last season, Eldridge had a 31% strikeout rate along with a 34% whiff rate across 286 plate appearances. In his first taste of the majors last year, he struck out 35% of the time and finished with a .071 ISO in 37 plate appearances. However, if he can make even a modest adjustment and trim his strikeout rate below 30%, his power could lead him into the NL Rookie of the Year conversation. Before we get ahead of ourselves, it's important to note that the Giants have not yet committed to whether he will be on the major league roster at the start of the season. Once he is called up, Eldridge is expected to play primarily at first base and as a designated hitter, with some outfield mixed in. Although he had wrist surgery in the offseason, he is already a full participant in spring training. If he sees 500 at-bats, he projects for up to 25 home runs with a .238 batting average. For fantasy, Eldridge has a high ceiling, but his contact issues could lead to an equally low floor. At his current ADP of 356, he is an inexpensive dart throw that could pay off big time, but make sure you have a backup plan.--Marty Tallman