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 3rd 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 12th overall in 2005, and Bruce was signed soon after for a bonus of $1.8 million, which is the 5th 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 27th, 2008 after starting the year in AAA. And on the first day Jay Bruce started in CF and hit 2nd 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 10th, 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:
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