SF Giants’ top pick Bryce Eldridge on being labeled American Shohei: ‘I want to be my own version’
No need for Bryce Eldridge to use his scholarship offer to play baseball at Alabama as leverage for a contract with the Giants.
After being selected with the No. 16 pick in the first round Sunday night to pursue his dream of being a two-way player in the big leagues, Eldridge made it clear Monday he’d bypass his college commitment.
“I will be signing,” Eldridge said in a teleconference with Bay Area media. “I had two good options and I’m blessed to be where I’m at right now.”
Eldridge, 18, is a 6-foot-7, 223-pound first baseman/outfielder and pitcher from James Madison High in Vienna, Va. with prodigious power in both areas. Throws right, bats left. Kind of like, well, you know, Shohei Ohtani, who checks in at 6-4, 209 and has lit up major league baseball in both areas since he arrived from Japan in 2018.
Dubbed “American Shohei” or “American Ohtani” in some quarters, Eldridge isn’t shying away from the comparison.
“I’m never going to complain getting compared to the best player in baseball right now,” Eldridge said. “Obviously we’re a long ways from there, but he’s someone I’ve looked up to since he’s come to America.
“I don’t mind it but I want to be my own version. I want to be Bryce Eldridge, not the American Shohei. I want to leave a big mark on the game in my own way.”
With Eldridge’s declaration that he’s signing, that should come sooner rather than later. Eldridge had a home visit from the Giants, visited their Arizona spring training facility and was extensively scouted in high school and summer ball by the club.
So when the Giants took him at No. 16, Eldridge knew he was going to a club that would support his desire to begin his career as both a pitcher and a hitter. They’d already done it with Reggie Crawford, last year’s first-round pick out of UConn.
“I knew it was a possibility,” Eldridge said. “It was something I wanted, it was something they wanted and it all happened really quick. I got the phone call and two minutes later I’m a Giant, so it’s really cool.”
The Gatorade State Player of the Year in Virginia, Eldridge hit .422 with eight homers and a 1.716 OPS as a senior, striking out 66 batters in 39 2/3 innings with 1.06 earned run average. Playing for Team USA in the Under-18 World Cup, Eldridge hit .316 with three homers, 13 RBIs and hit a 449-foot home run. He pitched three innings and allowed one hit.
Eldridge’s exploits have been so impressive it has become difficult to separate myth from fact. A National League scout who preferred to remain anonymous told the Washington Post in April Eldridge had the skillset to become a two-way player.
“I’ve never seen a guy who’s that size do the things that he’s done,” he said. “He’s a unique talent. If we’re lucky enough to select him, he’s going to go out as a two-way guy. He’ll be given every chance to play every day on both sides of the ball.”
Eldridge said a little more than half of the teams he talked to were willing to let him be a two-way player, while the rest zeroed in on his potential as a hitter. He is already acquainted with Crawford, who reached out after Eldridge was selected. Crawford, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is currently playing for the Single-A San Jose Giants.
“Looking forward to work with him, keep in touch with him and kind of pick his brain a little bit on the whole two-way thing,” Eldridge said. “I remember watching him get drafted last year. I’ve known the name for awhile, now I get to be buddies with him, teammates with him, so I’m pumped about that.”
Eldridge grew up playing multi-sports but claimed baseball as his first love. The last sport he played competitively other than baseball was football as a freshman.
“I like hitting people, but obviously that’s not good for the shoulder,” Eldridge said.
Once he fixated on baseball, Eldridge has watched Ohtani closely, as well as the short swing of Bryce Harper as a hitter and dominance of Justin Verlander on the mound.
A self-scouting report indicates the enthusiastic Eldridge is not short on confidence.
“I’ll start with power on both sides. You could put me up there with the top power in the draft class this year coming out of high school,” Eldridge said. “The distances and numbers I’ve put up at the plate have been pretty surreal and pretty amazing. I can hit, too. I don’t strike out a lot.
“On the pitching side, there’s power too. The power fastball. I’ve got two great off-speed pitches. I’m a starting pitcher. We’ll see what happens in the future with that. But I can go the distance. I’ve got a bunch of pitches I can throw. Definitely the complete package.”
The Giants visit the Washington Nationals from July 21-23, which Eldridge plans on attending unless he’s signed and getting started out west.
“If I’m not out in Arizona, I’ll be there,” Eldridge said.