Prospect Profile - Jay Bruce

[Heath]

this is mostly redundant .... but it was fun looking up his stats and some bio....

Jay Bruce

Born: April 3, 1987
Height: 6-2 Weight: 205
Bats: L Throws: L
High School: West Brook (Beaumont,TX)
Drafted: Selected by Cincinnati Reds in 1st Round (12th overall) of 2005 amateur entry draft (June-Reg)
Position – OF

Current Team/League - Low-A Midwest League Dayton Dragons.

2006 Statistics as of 6/29/06 .308/10/51….Midwest League All-Star…MVP of the All-Star game….Currently playing in both right and center field

2005 Recap – drafted by the Reds 12th overall directly from High School….spent the last half of 2005 in between GCL Reds and Billings….hit .266 with 9HR and 31 RBI’s in 54 games combined….also had an .825 OPS for the year….

Synopsis (IMO)….Bruce is considered a 5-tool prospect, but has not used the speed on the offensive side as projected….arguably the number one offensive prospect in the organization..very talented player, looks to improve on the finer points of the game…can be dangerous to run on with good throwing arm….can cover the CF area, but probably projects to corner outfield…should be promoted to Sarasota soon. Will start in AA Chattanooga in 2007…..

Current projection in Reds Uniform...September Callup in 2007.

[OSURedLeg]

Heath, do you have any inside information that leads you to believe that Bruce will start out in AA next season? I'm curious because this has been a discussion that has heated up the passed several weeks.

[KittyDuran]

From the cover of Play Ball!

and from an issue of Play Ball!
http://daytondragons.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Play%20Ball/A%20Taste%20of%20the%20Big%20Leagues.pdf

[Heath]

Heath, do you have any inside information that leads you to believe that Bruce will start out in AA next season? I'm curious because this has been a discussion that has heated up the passed several weeks.

Just visual - but with Bruce going from Low-A to AA ball is, IMO, the toughest jump in the minor leagues. Adam Dunn did it.

If Bruce could spend August in Sarasota with the SaraReds, I think that will propel him to AA in 2007. He's got the talent, he needs to work on some of the finer points in the field.

However, IMO, he needs to spend the entire season in AA in 2007. If he has a great year overall, he's a September call-up.

[dougdirt]

Dunn went from A to AA becuase at the time the Reds didnt have a High A affiliate. That is why he played two years in Dayton.

[dougdirt]

I have some Jay Bruce stats for you guys.
Jay has not hit a home run in 99 at bats (not including All-Star game). His batting average however has gone from .263 to .308 in the same span.

[KittyDuran]

Dunn went from A to AA becuase at the time the Reds didnt have a High A affiliate. That is why he played two years in Dayton.In 2000 the Reds had 2 low A teams, both in the Midwest league, Dayton and Clinton. Then IIRC in 2001 they did get a high A in the California League, Stockton, which was called Mudville at the time. So he could have went there. Kearns didn't go to high A either, did he? [and didn't go to AAA until he was sent down because of the 4 headed outfield monster].

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce's plate discipline is improving as I thought it would, and he is showing why his discipline was rated as the second best among high schoolers last year. He has now walked seven times since July 2nd, giving him 32 walks in 323 atbats, which is a respectable rate and I expect it to continue improving.

Jay is now hitting .319/.384/.573 with 51 extra-base hits in 323 atbats. I don't think Reds fans could have asked for a better year out of Bruce.

[Superdude]

Could that have to do with pitchers starting to pitch around him or do you think he is actually getting more patient?

[OnBaseMachine]

To cut it short, probably a little bit of both.

[OnBaseMachine]

Jay Bruce XBH hit chart:

http://firstinning.com/i/chart/2006-6443-bru-1987-04-03.gif

[Superdude]

That's a great chart! He's definitely using the whole field.

[Doc. Scott]

Bruce leads all of North American baseball in doubles with 36. Nobody in the bigs has more than 31.