Bryce Eldridge, in lost Giants season,gives fansreason to watch, hope

SAN FRANCISCO — Real estate is everything in baseball, from your locker stall (or stalls) in the clubhouse to your position in the batting order.In both cases, Bryce Eldridge is moving on up in the world.This past week the Giants’ 21-year-old top prospect ascended to the next level.If there was any doubt after his walk-off grand slam Wednesday, Eldridge made it clear with three of the Giants’ four hits and a home run accounting for their only run in a 5-1 loss Friday.The Franchise has arrived.“I think about it every day,” Eldridge said.

“That I’m just gonna keep working hard because I want to be the face of this franchise.That’s something that motivates me every day.“I want to be in that moment.

I want to be that guy.”The wait is over: He is that guy.Still four months shy of his 22nd birthday, Eldridge is the third-youngest position player to appear in the majors this season.But already he’s proving capable of becoming the franchise’s top attraction since the World Series hero now running their front office.He’s shown why over a two-week stretch that has plenty of parallels to the way Buster Posey announced himself as a superstar-in-the-making after his call-up in 2010.Since ending May 27 batting .170 with a .541 OPS through his first 15 games, Eldridge has set the league on fire, raising his average to .316 and his OPS to .956.Both numbers are the best among rookies with as many at-bats.But get this: Over a recent 14-game stretch, Eldridge’s 267 wRC+ has been the best in baseball.

The advanced metric measures offensive production while adjusting for league and park factors; it tells us Eldridge was outslugging everyone over the two-week period.“He literally has handled everything we’ve thrown at him,” manager Tony Vitello said.“So, the time is now.

It seems like the more at-bats he’s gotten, the calmer he’s gotten in the box.”Like a superstar slugger can, Eldridge has unlocked the rest of the Giants’ lineup.Over the ...