[Mick]

Eldridge-nice first impression.  450 foot HR in second AB. JT Snow is going to be in camp as a guest instructor.  I’d hire him full time as a so-called roving instructor.  He’d roam to wherever Eldridge is playing.  He never played first base prior to last year. 18 errors.  

 As a two way player he mostly DH’d when he didn’t pitch.  It’s going to take some time for him to be a viable defender.  Question will be - if he tears it up in Sac, but isn’t ready defensively, do they call him up and have him DH?  Thats not a long term ‘solution”.  But he could continue working on his defense before and between games.  

I’m hoping he forces the issue.

Eldridge was a two way player? Didn't see that in his stats from last year. . . .

Sort of. He was the 12th overall rated prospect and the #1 rated first baseman nationally. Here's the description: "Easy velocity up to 95 mph with big sinking life; high ceiling physical projection, repeats delivery well and fills the zone, also big left-handed power."

He did pretty well at AA (.270/.325/.460/.785) but faltered at AAA (.258/.343/.258/.601). No big deal, he was 19 years old. And the HR he had was off of a 91.5 mph fastball...and the pitcher he hit it off of (Matt Festa) gave up two home runs, three hits and three earned runs in one inning (McCray hit a home run off of him, too). Still, Festa was an MLB pitcher for five years with a 4.60 career ERA. Incidentally, Sam Huff, potential backup catcher also hit a 422 foot home run to center. And SF pitchers gave up just four hits.

Eldridge needs a lot of work at 1B. At least he's better this year (.977 field%) versus last year (.929 field%). And both his fielding percentage and range factor improved at AAA (.983 and 8.27). JT has six gold gloves, a career .995 fielding percentage and accepted a full chance and a half more per game than Eldridge did in the minors. BTW, MLB fielding average for first basemen is .993.

[Mick]

Eldridge-nice first impression.  450 foot HR in second AB. JT Snow is going to be in camp as a guest instructor.  I’d hire him full time as a so-called roving instructor.  He’d roam to wherever Eldridge is playing.  He never played first base prior to last year. 18 errors.  

 As a two way player he mostly DH’d when he didn’t pitch.  It’s going to take some time for him to be a viable defender.  Question will be - if he tears it up in Sac, but isn’t ready defensively, do they call him up and have him DH?  Thats not a long term ‘solution”.  But he could continue working on his defense before and between games.  

I’m hoping he forces the issue.

Eldridge was a two way player? Didn't see that in his stats from last year. . . .

Sort of. He was the 12th overall rated prospect and the #1 rated first baseman nationally. Here's the description: "Easy velocity up to 95 mph with big sinking life; high ceiling physical projection, repeats delivery well and fills the zone, also big left-handed power."

He did pretty well at AA (.270/.325/.460/.785) but faltered at AAA (.258/.343/.258/.601). No big deal, he was 19 years old. And the HR he had was off of a 91.5 mph fastball...and the pitcher he hit it off of (Matt Festa) gave up two home runs, three hits and three earned runs in one inning (McCray hit a home run off of him, too). Still, Festa was an MLB pitcher for five years with a 4.60 career ERA. Incidentally, Sam Huff, potential backup catcher also hit a 422 foot home run to center. And SF pitchers gave up just four hits.

Eldridge needs a lot of work at 1B. At least he's better this year (.977 field%) versus last year (.929 field%). And both his fielding percentage and range factor improved at AAA (.983 and 8.27). JT has six gold gloves, a career .995 fielding percentage and accepted a full chance and a half more per game than Eldridge did in the minors. BTW, MLB fielding average for first basemen is .993.