Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here.

Few prospects had a better offensive season than Giants slugger Bryce Eldridge.

The No. 35 overall prospect mashed across four Minor League levels, was named Northwest League MVP and finished the year as the youngest player at Triple-A. Overall, Eldridge batted .292 with an .890 OPS. He was one of only three Minor Leaguers with at least 23 homers, 27 doubles and 91 RBIs, and he was a Hitting Prospect of the Year finalist at the MiLB Awards Show.

The 6-foot-7, 223-pounder was originally drafted as a two-way player but gave up pitching in February, following the opposite path as fellow Giants prospect Reggie Crawford.

Eldridge is athletic enough and certainly has the arm strength to eventually return to right field where he played exclusively in 2023. But he’ll stick at first base moving forward as he maximizes his reps at the plate.

The 20-year-old is able to make the most of his hulking frame with a quick left-handed stroke that generates incredible power to all fields. He has a more disciplined approach than a typical all-or-nothing, long ball hitter and should be able to hit for both average and power.

“It’s a pretty special mix of ingredients,” former San Francisco general manager Pete Putila told MLB.com in February. “I think his ability to make contact, coupled with his size and a strong history of plate discipline, is a pretty special mix. He’s kind of checking all the boxes for us there.”

The Fairfax, Virginia, native earned the reputation as an “American Ohtani” at James Madison High School. Eldridge could reach 97 mph on the mound while producing a 1.716 OPS to lead the program to a state championship. He was named Virginia’s Gatorade Player of the Year, batting .422 with eight homers while recording 66 punchouts in 39 2/3 innings.

Eldridge also had a successful tenure with USA Baseball, where he starred on the 18U National Team in 2022. He led the Americans to a Gold Medal in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, during which he was named MVP, batting .316 with a tournament-best three homers and 13 RBIs while recording three scoreless innings on the mound, including the final frame of the Gold Medal contest. He also earned Richard W. “Dick” Case Award honors as the national team’s best player.

MLB Pipeline ranked Eldridge as the No. 23 overall prospect. The Giants took a chance on his two-way potential and selected him with the 16th pick and signed him to an above-slot, $3,997,500 deal.

Eldridge didn’t get to pitch after signing, but he had a hot start to his pro career, recording a .294/.400/.505 slash line with six homers and 18 RBIs over 31 games between the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and Single-A San Jose.

Eldridge did not take part in any Cactus League games last spring, and the Giants’ Spring Breakout game was canceled by rain. He returned to San Jose for the start of the regular season and missed two weeks in April with a hamstring injury. But his second California League tour lasted just 51 games – where he batted .263 with an .801 OPS and 10 homers – and he was promoted to Eugene in June.

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During his time at High-A, Eldridge led the league in batting (.335), homers (12), RBIs (41), OBP (.442), slugging (.618), OPS (1.060) and walks (35).

Eldridge put his Northwest League dominance on hold to start at first base for the National League in the All-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, where he singled and scored in two at-bats.

The Giants promoted Eldridge twice in September. He played the final nine games of Double-A Richmond’s regular season before finishing the year with Triple-A Sacramento. He recorded hits in all but three of his final 17 regular season games, during which he batted .265 with a .701 OPS at the two highest levels of the Minors.

Eldridge’s final challenge of the year came in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .293 with an .860 OPS, five extra-base hits and six RBIs in 10 games before shutting down for the year.

While his pitching days may be behind him, Eldridge’s decision to concentrate on his hitting development has clearly paid dividends. He took batting practice at Oracle Park when he signed last July but fell short of McCovey Cove. Should he stay with the organization, there could be plenty of "Splash Hits" in his future.