I have noticed that Jr really seems to be taking it easy in chasing flyballs and running the bases this season. Personally I think it is an attempt to save the legs because he knows if he pushes it the injury is only a matter of time. He is not really slow, his problem is that he only rarely goes full speed because of the realization that sooner or later the legs are going to let him down.
His rate(100=avg) defensive stat is WAY down this year.He is on pace for an FRAA in the range of -25.Rate
A way to look at the fielder's rate of production, equal to 100 plus the number of runs above or below average this fielder is per 100 games. A player with a rate of 110 is 10 runs above average per 100 games, a player with an 87 is 13 runs below average per 100 games, etc.
Last year in RF his Rate was 97, this year it has fallen to 83(as a comparison Dunn was 86 last year and is 92 this year).
The bad part for the Reds it that it has reached the point where the longer Bruce stays down in AAA the more it hampers the chances of the major league winning.