LOS ANGELES -- After years of promise, there's a wave of Giants youngsters finally hitting the San Francisco shoreline.

And making a sizeable splash.

Speedy outfielder Jason Ellison has that "wow factor" going for him, entering Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting .500 with a homer, RBI and stolen base.

Ellison reached base three times in the Giants' 11-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies at SBC Park on Sunday.

Infielder Lance Niekro has played only two games, going 2-for-8 after being recalled from Triple-A Fresno last Friday after Moises Alou went on the 15-day disabled list. He has played flawless defense.

There's also outfielder Tony Torcato making the Opening Day roster for the first time.

For left-handed pitcher Noah Lowry, a player barely out of rookiehood himself, it's a kick to see his former Minor League teammmates aboard, and with pitcher Jesse Foppert and outfielder Todd Linden nearly ready, the Giants' future looks solid.

"It's great to have these guys come up and be successful, because they're good friends of mine and we've built relationships all the way through the Minors," said Lowry, who was 6-0 as a rookie last season.

While Niekro's time will be limited -- he'll likely be returned to Fresno when Alou returns -- he's still the club's first baseman of the future, while Torcato's bat should improve with more experience.

"It's night and day here compared with the Minor Leagues," said Lowry. "It's the same game but just on a bigger scale. That's the thing. Nobody sees how hard these guys work behind the scenes."

Lowry says people tend to forget he also paid his Minor League dues as well before barging onto the scene in 2004.

"Hopefully, it'll stay this way, with guys like Foppert, Kevin Correia and Linden coming up here and helping out," said Lowry. "It's just because they're buddies, but stepping on the field you know they've worked their butts off day in and day out. You fight with them all through the Minors and you have confidence in them."

For Giants manager Felipe Alou, the influx of younger players is familiar territory.

"It's very good to see them and I'm glad I'm seeing it," said Alou. "That's what I was used to in Montreal, with always a new wave of young players coming up. But I'm not surprised they're doing well."

Niekro was munching on a doughnut in the clubhouse recently and put his promotion into perspect. "Everything tastes sweeter up here," he said.

Bonds with club: Giants slugger Barry Bonds joined his teammates in the visiting clubhouse Tuesday, his surgically repaired right knee tightly wrapped.

Barry Bonds  /   LF
		Born: 07/24/64 Height: 6'2" Weight: 230 lbs Bats: L / Throws: L More info: Player page Stats | Splits Gallery Team Site | Shop

Reports are Bonds hasn't been jogging or doing any type of baseball work as the medical staff wants his knee to heal properly before extensive exercise begins.

Bonds could be back in May or June, and Alou feels the superstar will be strong.

"He looks better," said the skipper. "I don't know how he played last year, the last six weeks. He was limping but still went out there. So I imagine when he comes back, he should be as good or better than he was at the end of last year."

On deck: Right-hander Brett Tomko (1-0) takes the hill for the second time this season, opposing Dodgers lefty Odalis Perez (1-0) on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

Tomko has a 4-1 mark and 2.62 lifetime ledger at Chavez Ravine over 10 starts.