Impact Analysis: Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds

June 4, 2008 @ 12:54:21

By Keith Hernandez
Edited by Herija C. Green

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is quickly becoming a household name. For people that did not know who he was before last week, it is safe to say that he is no longer a secret.

Bruce was a third-team High School All-American out of Beaumont, Texas. He decided to forego a college career and entered the 2005 draft, where he was selected 12th overall by the Reds. In his first minor league action, he hit .270 with five home runs in 37 games with the rookie affiliate Gulf Coast Reds. He was then promoted to another rookie squad, the Billings Mustangs, where he hit just .257 with only six extra base-hits in 70 at-bats. In 2006, he began to turn some heads, hitting .291 with the team's low Single-A club.

Last year was a remarkable year for Bruce, advancing from Single-A to Triple-A with ease. He compiled a .325 batting average in Single-A and a .333 average with a .652 slugging percentage at Double-A. Bruce finished the 2007 season with Triple-A Louisville, with 57 hits and 11 home runs in 187 at-bats. After hitting a combined .319 with 26 home runs, Baseball America named him the 2007 Minor League Player of the Year.

After his quick rise through the Reds' minor league system, it was only a matter of time before this young phenom would get a call up to the majors. This year he started out with Triple-A Louisville, earning a .364 batting average while slugging .630 in 49 games.

The Reds' No. 1 prospect finally got the call May 27 and did not disappoint. Bruce went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two walks in his major league debut. However, he hasn't slowed down a bit since his amazing debut performance. In his second game, he became the first player since 1977 to reach base safely in his first six plate appearances. He then hit his first major league home run May 31, a walk-off shot in the bottom of the 10th inning.

After it was all said and done, Bruce's first week in the big leagues has been quite memorable. He hit at a .591 clip with two home runs, six RBIs, 10 runs and two stolen bases. Entering play June 4, Bruce is hitting .552 with three home runs, seven RBIs and a slugging percentage of .966. There has been an extreme amount of hype surrounding Bruce, and with the ridiculous start to his major league career, is even overshadowing fellow outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.'s pursuit of 600 career home runs.

The media and fans are quick to say that Bruce is the savior of the organization and some are calling him "Bruce Almighty." Despite his initial success, some are hesitant to in calling him the greatest thing since sliced bread. Manager Dusty Baker is pointing out that although he may have had a phenomenal first week in the pros, he is still a rookie and could just be getting caught up in the moment.

It is too early to tell if Bruce can become the savior of the Reds. One thing that is very likely to happen, however, is the 21-year-old coming back down to earth in the coming weeks. Since he has just burst onto the major league scene, teams have not had a chance to compile a scouting report on him. When teams acquire video and tendencies on Bruce, they will most likely unearth some weaknesses at the plate.

Fantasy baseball outlook

Bruce definitely has great fantasy value and looks to become a steady fantasy contributor in the coming years. Fantasy owners who snatched Bruce up and risked starting him have immediately reaped the benefits. He is a must have in all league formats. Bruce has all of the tools to become a top-tier fantasy outfielder in the next few years, barring any unforeseen injuries. After his amazing week, he is a must start fantasy option. However, because of all the hype surrounding him in 2007, most semi-knowledgeable fantasy gamers jumped on the Bruce bandwagon long ago. If you do happen to play in a league where Bruce is available, pick him up immediately.

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Keith Hernandez

Keith, an editor with KFFL, joined the team as a Hot off the Wire analyst in 2008 and has been playing fantasy sports since 2005. He is involved in MLB, NFL and NASCAR content. He graduated from the University of California-San Diego in 2005 with a B.A. in Communications and was a four-year starter as a member of the baseball program.

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