SAN FRANCISCO — With one compact swing and one splashdown in McCovey Cove, Bryce Eldridge took another step in his transformation from a 21-year-old rookie into a potential franchise anchor Thursday night.Eldridge pulled in his hands, guided the barrel to an inside pitch from Colorado Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner and registered 106-mph contact. It was the kind of pitch that many left-handed power hitters yank foul if they make contact at all. Eldridge did better than keep it fair. He created so much backspin that it rocketed over the top of the 25-foot arcade on a line. It hit the water with such force that it’s a wonder it didn’t skip like a river stone.Eldridge’s ascendance is easily the most encouraging development in a forgettable San Francisco Giants season. His first career splash homer stood out among several positives in an 8-2 victory over the Rockies.“I mean, (the) kid’s 21,” said left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, who benefited from Eldridge’s solo shot in the fourth inning and picked up a victory in his season debut. “He shouldn’t be able to do that.”
BRYCE ELDRIDGE SPLASH HIT pic.twitter.com/VoW43SCUq6
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 10, 2026Eldridge made his season debut on May 4. He’s spent a little more than two months in the big leagues. His .843 OPS already leads a Giants roster that includes several former All-Star position players and one current selection (Luis Arraez). In another month, Eldridge likely will lead the team in walks, too. He has eight home runs in 178 at-bats, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he reaches 25 HRs before the year is complete.It didn’t surprise any of his teammates that Eldridge hit the Giants’ first splash homer this season. They’ve been staring at the glowing 108 on the splash counter all season. A whoop and holler went up in the dugout when it flashed 109 at the end of the inning.“There were some angry fellas in the dugout that it didn’t change immediately, but I assume that’s not how it works,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “So it was good to see that number change, for sure.”Eldridge rounded the bases in loping strides and accepted congratulations in the dugout but didn’t know the home run had reached the water on a fly until infield coach Ron Washington informed him. Eldridge laughed as he recalled his first home run at the Giants’ waterfront ballpark on May 9. When he saw the steam cannons erupt, he assumed it meant it was a splash hit.What made the home run swing even more meaningful was the adjustment he made to create it.“I was happy with that swing more so because I’ve been kind of inside-outing a lot of balls in, fouling balls off and getting around stuff,” Eldridge said. “I haven’t really found that perfect flush swing recently. So that one felt good. … I’ve had a few weird swings like that and get homers out of them. I thank God every day that I have the strength to do that.
