The Red Report: Jay Bruce

Jay Bruce

#32 / Right Field / Cincinnati Reds

Height: 6-3

Weight: 205

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Apr 03, 1987

 Fast Facts:

• Jay Anderson Bruce was born in Beaumont, Texas on April 3rd, 1987.  As a child, he idolized Ken Griffey Jr, once calling the Kingdome long distance in an attempt to speak with him. 
• He attended West Brook High School in Beaumont and was named a 3^rd Team High School All-American as an outfielder.  Entering his senior season at Beaumont, he wasn't a hot prospect in draft circles, but a breakout senior season saw him rocket up the draft boards.
• The Reds selected him 12^th overall in 2005, and Bruce was signed soon after for a bonus of $1.8 million, which is the 5^th largest bonus the Reds have ever given a draft pick.
• His first full season in pro ball was spent in low-A ball with the Dayton Dragons, where he hit .291/.355/.516 with 16 home runs as a 19-year-old.
• '07 was Bruce's breakout year, as he completely dominated minor league pitching through 3 levels (A+, AA, AAA), putting up a gaudy stat line of .319/.375/.587 with 80 extra base-hits.  He spent most of his time in CF and showed the tools necessary to hold his own there, even though most inside and outside the Reds system saw him as a RF. 
  
• Bruce was honored as the Minor League Player of the Year for '07, was selected to the All-Star Futures game, and ended the year atop many prospect lists.  As the season came to a close, Bruce was torching AAA pitching and there were some whispers that he should see time with the Reds as a September call-up.  But even with some injuries in the Reds outfield, GM Wayne Krivsky decided that Bruce had shown off enough and he would not see time in the majors. 

• Bruce was called up to the Reds on May 27^th, 2008 after starting the year in AAA.  And on the first day Jay Bruce started in CF and hit 2^nd in the order, with his boyhood hero Ken Griffey, Jr looking on in the on-deck circle.  Bruce went 3-3 with 2 singles, a double, 2 walks, and a stolen base.
  
• On the second day, Bruce went 1-3 with a double, 2 walks, and a run scored.  He became the first player since 1977 to reach base in his first 6 plate appearances. 
• On the third day, he was 0-3 and was hit by a pitch. 
• On the fourth day, he was 4-5 with a double and 2 runs scored.
• On the fifth day, he was 3-5 with a walk and his first home run.  With the game tied at 7 in the bottom of the 10^th, Bruce launched a no-doubter into the right field bleachers for his first game-winning a hit, a dramatic home run. 
  

Jay Bruce Walk-Off Home Run (via jeffcats)

• On the sixth day, Bruce he went 2 for 3 with a home run, a single, 2 RBIs, and 1 BB.
• On the seventh day he did not rest; he went 2-4 with a home run.  After one week of playing Major League Baseball, Bruce had a batting line of .577/.667/.1.038 with 3 homers, 3 doubles, 9 singles, and six walks.  
• Alas, Bruce could not continue his impossibly dominant streak, but he ended the year hitting a respectable .254/.314/.453 with 21 home runs.  Had he played a full season, he was on pace to hit 30 home runs.  The only guys to hit 30 or more home runs in their age-21 season are Eddie Matthews, Albert Pujols, Hal Trosky, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Canseco, Jimmy Foxx, Bob Horner, Andruw Jones, and Ruben Sierra. 

Contract Status:

MLB service time (As of Opening Day 2009):  0.685 years
Signed by Scout:  Brian Wilson
Current Contract Status:  Pre-arbitration, renewed on a one year contract on 2/21/09 

Career Stats:

(BBref | FanGraphs | THT)

Scouting Report:

(via The Baseball Cube)

Power: 96
Speed: 58
Contact: 17
Patience: 39

2009 Projections

RR Projected Wins Above Replacement:  2.65

Graphs

Click any link below to view the graph above