LOS ANGELES — Eldridge Industries is an investment firm co-founded by a member of the Dodgers’ ownership group. The name can be found in seemingly every nook and cranny of Dodger Stadium: The new ribbon board, a permanent outfield sign, an ad behind home plate.

And, until the very last batter the Giants brought to the plate Monday night, that was the only place the name Eldridge appeared on the field of play.

Bryce Eldridge,the Giants’ top prospect, rode the pine for a second straight game until manager Tony Vitello sent him out with two outs in the ninth to the on-deck circle, where the would-be pinch-hitter watched Luis Arraez make their last out of a 9-3 romp over their archrivals.

Afterward, Vitello affirmed Eldridge would be in the starting lineup the following night against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But before first pitch, the rookie manager all but confirmed such opportunities would be few and far between despite the prospect’s pedigree.

“He’s definitely not gonna get the amount of at-bats that he would get if he was on the minor-league team and he was the key ingredient in the middle of the order,” Vitello said of the 21-year-old first baseman, who was doing just that before his promotion last week.

Eldridge’s 6-foot-7 frame had produced a .333 batting average and .963 OPS playing everyday at Triple-A Sacramento. Since being called up in an attempt to ignite the majors’ most anemic lineup, however, his name has only been in it slightly more often than not — four of a possible seven games.

“It is what it is,” Eldridge told The California Post. “Obviously it’s a little bit different from what I was doing in Triple-A, but I’m here to help the team win. Whatever I can do to help.”

Eldridge told the Post that he arrived with no expectations of playing everyday but that he was “trying to still figure out a routine” to continue his development — and stay sharp — as possibly the largest little fish in a big pond that has ever existed.

He said he is waiting to hear from the organization about its plans for him.

“I think there’s definitely some conversations to be had,” he said. “I’m going to continue to be open with them and hopefully they’re open with me as well. … Whenever we get a chance to talk about a plan for me and whatnot, we’ll talk about that when time comes around.

Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos