OF Jay Bruce - Cincinnati Reds MLB

OF Jay Bruce - Cincinnati Reds MLB / Louisville AAA

Position: OF Full Name: Jay A. Bruce
Born: April 3, 1987 Beaumont,Texas
Height: 6-3 Weight: 195 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)

Video, stats and scouting report

Baseball's number one prospect according to Baseball America and MiLB.com. current Baseball America minor league player of the year. Should break camp with the big club, if Dusty Baker doesn't pull his old routine and play a scrub like Norris Hopper in his place.

He can play centerfield, but probably projects better as a right fielder in the major leagues. The fact that BA and MiLB.com have ranked him so highly is testament to his ability, for they usually go with some "tools" guy who can run around in center or make dives at shortstop. It's rare that they go with the best player, but Bruce is indeed that.

MiLB:
In 2007, Bruce finished second in the Minors with 80 extra-base hits, hitting well over .300 across three levels of competition. In his two-plus years of pro ball, Bruce has belted out 165 extra-base hits for a career .543 slugging percentage. He may not have the jets of a Maybin or Upton, two of the other high school outfield draftees from 2005, but he's got some speed and can hold his own in center, a position he's played frequently in the Minors. That being said, he profiles as an elite right-fielder who'll hit for average and power while stopping runners from taking the extra base with his arm. The 2005 draft may go down as one of the best of all time -- and Bruce may be the most pure hitter of the lot.

Wears #32

Upright stance, hands high (seen in MiLB.com link video)

High socks, no wristbands, no taping.

White/gray batting gloves / team color/black batting gloves.

All black bat.

Two-handed follow through, tight to body, chest high (again, seen in video link).