Bryce Eldridge is Locking In

SF Giants Minor Lines, May 15, 2025

Photo Credit: Mick Anders | Richmond Flying Squirrels

We’ll get to Bryce Eldridge content later in the program, but I want to start with something else remarkable that very nearly took place in Richmond yesterday.

With two outs in the top of the 7th of the second game, Evan Gates came trotting in from the Squirrels’ bullpen. That ended what was momentarily an extraordinary possibility — that Richmond might end their double header day having used just two pitchers. The Squirrels’ communications team was left scrambling for the history books to try to find the last time the team had thrown back-to-back Complete Games. Things didn’t quite get that far — a third pitcher was needed for one final batter.

Yes, this was double-header rules, so “CG” gets the 7-inning asterisk, and yes, these were maybe not the most dominating starts of all time — in another nod to a previous era, Richmond pitchers recorded just seven Ks across 14 innings of work. Still, the fact that the Giants were comfortable sending both of their Double-A starters out for the chance at seven complete innings does tell us something important about what is going on behind the scenes.

When the new leadership of this organization says they want to give guys the chance to pitch deep into games and learn how to navigate lineups multiple times — learn how to work their way out jams and conserve energy for the long haul — we need to believe them! Because they’re proving the sincerity of their intentions on a regular basis at this point. And I think a corollary supposition to that is: when they say that they want to leave players at a level for full seasons so that they can really learn the nuances of the game at that level — we should believe that, too. At least until a counter-example is given.

This is a new group with a new philosophy taking over. Whether that philosophy is going to be successful in the long run is for time to tell. But we are definitely going to need to learn to evaluate them by their own standards — just as we did the previous regime. I can say that I had an energetic talk with a scout from another NL club this week who would like to see some of these same principles used in his organization as well. Time will tell.

HITTER of the NIGHT: Bryce Eldridge (Rich), 3 for 6, HR, 2b, 2 RBI,
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Sadrac Franco (Eug), 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Alright, now let’s get on with our regularly scheduled Eldridge enjoyment….