The Giants’ Top Prospect Navigates Trade Rumors and Recovery

Bryce Eldridge, the San Francisco Giants’ top prospect, has not been immune to the trade rumors that have circulated throughout the offseason. He has been mentioned as a potential centerpiece in deals for starting pitching, but these discussions seem to have quieted down after the Giants added Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle. Despite the speculation, Eldridge remains focused on his future with the team, wearing the No. 8 jersey in honor of hockey legend Alexander Ovechkin.

“It’s definitely a first,” Eldridge said on Saturday afternoon before the first leg of the Giants’ FanFest Tour. “I try not to get too wrapped up in anything going on. I think when you get to a point in the offseason, people need stuff to talk about, whether they know what’s true and what’s not.”

Eldridge is determined to continue playing for the Giants for years to come. “I don’t know how far those talks got, but I want to be here.”

Focused on Recovery and Performance

The 21-year-old’s main concern this winter hasn’t been trade talk, but rather recovering from left wrist surgery. Eldridge sustained the injury during spring training, which caused him to miss the start of the minor-league season. He received a cortisone shot and pushed through the ailment, performing well for Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento before being called up for the stretch run.

“Some days were better than others,” Eldridge said. “It was definitely mentally challenging knowing I had to go up there and I didn’t feel 100 percent for most of the year, but it gives me confidence knowing what I was able to do when I wasn’t feeling my best.”

Eldridge is now in the last week of his rehab and describes himself as “full-go.” He began his hitting progression in December and will soon hit off a Trajekt Arc machine, which can replicate major-league pitchers. Come February, he will attempt to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career.

Despite impressive at-bats last September, Eldridge isn’t guaranteed to break camp with San Francisco, having played only 10 major-league games. Spring training will also provide the Giants with an extended opportunity to figure out the pairing of Eldridge and Rafael Devers. Devers and Eldridge are an imperfect pairing, given they’re both left-handed hitting first basemen and the Giants will have to determine their breakdown of playing time at first base and DH.

Offensively, they have the potential to anchor San Francisco’s lineup for years. “Obviously, nothing’s guaranteed,” Eldridge said. “I want to make an impact and start the year with the team, whatever role they want me in. Mixing time with Devers, I think me and him could be a very dangerous duo in the middle of the lineup for a long time.”

Similar Challenges for Casey Schmitt

Infielder Casey Schmitt has had a similar offseason to Eldridge. Like Eldridge, Schmitt underwent left wrist surgery after playing through pain last season. Like Eldridge, Schmitt’s future has been a bit ambiguous. The Giants are reportedly interested in the St. Louis Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan and the Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner to boost their production at second base.

Donovan is a versatile one-time All-Star with a career .772 OPS, while Hoerner is a two-time Gold Glover coming off the best season of his career. Schmitt, who turns 27 before Opening Day, emerged as the Giants’ starting second baseman following Tyler Fitzgerald’s extended struggles. Despite the lingering effects of being plunked by a fastball in June, he still had career-highs in home runs (12) and RBIs (40) with a .706 OPS over 95 games.

“I feel like every year I’ve been in trade talk, so it’s nothing new for me,” Schmitt said. “I don’t really pay attention to it. I just kind of have to take care of what I have to take care of and have the best season.”

Schmitt thought the injury would go away with rest following the season, but opted for surgery in December when the pain didn’t subside. He started hitting on Friday, joking that head trainer Dave Groeschner had to pull him away from the batting cage.

“I don’t think I’m going to miss any time,” Schmitt said. “Everything’s going just as planned.”

New Manager Makes an Impression

Saturday afternoon provided Giants fans with their first real exposure to manager Tony Vitello, who was hired and introduced in October. Vitello did his part to play to the crowd, donning a 49ers cap ahead of the team’s divisional playoff matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

“I’ve been looking forward to it,” said Vitello, who will also be at the San Ramon stop of the FanFest Tour next Saturday. “In an ideal world, I would be able to attend all three. I think I wind up being at two out of three, which is better than I ever hit.”

Vitello was among those in the organization who recently visited outfielder Jung Hoo Lee in South Korea, a trip that helped the Giants further establish their presence in the country. New coach Shane Robinson ran a baseball clinic, while president of baseball operations Buster Posey and general manager Zack Minasian met with the commissioner of the KBO.

“A lot of meals and breaking bread with everybody,” Vitello said. “For me, being in my first year, it was great to be around any of those people. Even Willy (Adames), who I’d spent a lot of time with in person, it provided a better opportunity to get to know him.”