There is no reason to minimize what happened to the San Francisco Giants in 2026. They endured another deeply disappointing season.

San Francisco finished 65-97, recording its third-highest loss total since the franchise moved to the city in 1958.

The Giants also missed the postseason for the fifth consecutive year and finished 35 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

Tony Vitello completed his first season as manager, and the results likely fell well short of what he envisioned when he accepted the position.

However, that does not mean every development from the season was negative.

As San Francisco begins what should be an extremely important offseason, the organization must identify the positive developments that emerged from a difficult 2026 campaign.

The Giants have numerous problems to solve, but Bryce Eldridge is not one of them.

Eldridge is developing into the player San Francisco hoped he would become. At only 21 years old, he hit .269 with 17 home runs, 57 RBIs and an .825 OPS in 107 games.

His progress also extended beyond his offensive production.

Vitello recognized Eldridge’s defensive improvement at first base as one of the significant positives from his rookie season.

Becoming more dependable in the field increased his overall value and gave the Giants greater confidence in his ability to hold an everyday position.

Unfortunately, Eldridge’s season ended early after he entered the concussion protocol during the last week.

The injury mirrored the problems experienced by several Giants players during the season. However, it occurred after San Francisco had already gathered enough information to determine that Eldridge should be an important part of its 2027 lineup.

Eldridge’s power is encouraging, but his development cannot be reduced to his ability to hit home runs. He has demonstrated the capacity to adjust while learning how opposing pitchers attempt to exploit him.

His willingness to improve defensively is equally important. Young power hitters can sometimes be treated as offensive specialists, but Eldridge has worked to become more reliable at first base and avoid limiting how the Giants can construct their lineup.

He also carries himself with the composure required to handle significant expectations. San Francisco needs young players who can endure difficult stretches without allowing the team’s struggles to disrupt their individual development.

Eldridge gives the Giants a hitter capable of becoming a central presence in the lineup. His power forces pitchers to approach him carefully, while his continued growth can create better opportunities for the hitters surrounding him.

The Giants must still improve several areas around their young first baseman. Eldridge should not be expected to repair the offense alone.

His rookie season nevertheless provided San Francisco with something it desperately needed: evidence that one of its most important young players belongs in its long-term plans.