Pyramid Hill lights up
Women of Excellence Awards
16th Annual Music Festival
Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > May > 26 > Entry
Reds promote Bruce … finally
Jay Bruce is coming. Finally. For real.
The 21-year-old outfielder will be in uniform 32 with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday when they open a three-game series with the Pirates.
And it made me a prophet. I told Marty Brennaman during a second-inning visit in Los Angeles on the just-complete 2-5 trip to the West Coast that I thought he would materialize when the Reds returned home.
After losing an 18-inning game Sunday to the last-place San Diego Padres, and watching Corey Patterson go 0-for-8, the Reds decided it was time to call up their No. 1 draft pick from 2005, who is wreaking havoc on Triple-A pitching.
General manager Walt Jocketty said all along that they wouldn’t call him up until they decided he would play.
So … let’s see if he is in Tuesday’s lineup. They say his position isn’t center field, but it isn’t likely they’ll bench left fielder Adam Dunn or right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. If he plays — and why else would they call him up — he’ll be in center.
Scouts tell me he CAN play center field. While he doesn’t have great speed, he gets good jumps on balls and gets to them. That’s all he needs to do, right?
Amazingly, I was dragging myself in the back door of my house after flying all day from San Diego when the phone rang with the news.
I left at 6:30 a.m. (9:30 Dayton time) and flew four hours to Atlanta, had a 90-minute layover, than an hour-and-a-half flight to Dayton, arriving home at 5 p.m.
Tired? Oh, yeah. But excited over the prospect of finally seeing Mr. Bruce in the flesh for the first time since spring training.
Bruce has been rated the best prospect in the minor leagues by Baseball America, Sporting News, most scouts, anybody with good baseball sense and fans of the Reds since last year.
He has spent the season at Louisville, where in 49 games he hit .364 with nine doubles, five triples, 10 HRs, 37 RBIs and eight stolen bases.
He leads the International League in hitting and hits (67) and ranks among the IL leaders in slugging percentage (.630, 3rd), runs scored (34, 4th), extra-base hits (24, T4th) and RBI (T5th).
All that was wasted in the minors. Now it’s time to put those numbers to good use.
A roster move to make room for Bruce will be made before Tuesday’s game.
Permalink | Comments (65) | Post your comment | Categories: Jay Bruce
Comments
By Melita
February 9, 2009 7:26 AM | Link to this
Hello. Everybody knows if you are too careful you are so occupied in being careful that you are sure to stumble over something. I am from England and now teach English, give please true I wrote the following sentence: “It is never too early to find out more about starting your own business and there are.” Thank you very much :-(. Melita.By Vivster
May 27, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this
Walt’s making some of the right moves. Hatteberg was a pro from the start, too bad the Reds couldn’t get something for him. Patterson was strictly for Dusty to have friend/familiar face. Can’t wait until Hopper gets off DL b/c Freel will slide down twd Mendoza eventually.By jls
May 27, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
get rid of Patterson, Belisle (whose arm produces nothing but t-ball quality stuff [easy to hit])and Hatteburg(as somebody else said, he needs to play everyday)By HuberTucky
May 27, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Dear supposed Reds authority, What is WRONG with you? You actually have the unmitigated insecurity to come on here and REMIND us that you were the first to break the Hatty story? What does that make you…COOL? Frankly, RA, who give’s a shite/ Go do a comb over and have another Manhattan. Your glass is half empty. God, you are a needy sort. Pathetic old sot.By chris
May 27, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
the move was right. hatteburg is not a pinch-hitter. he needed everyday playing time and he’ll get it somewhere else. HOPEFULLY by trading deadline paterson and his weak hitting ability “0-8 in san diego in one game” will also be out the door.By steve
May 27, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
Good move to cut Hatteberg. He was a complete waste coming off the bench and needs to play everyday. Patterson is by far the best defensive outfielder so you can’t cut him until Hopper gets back. Freel plays to many positions so you can’t cut him. As we get closer to the trading deadline the outfield situation should change. The Reds do not want Bruce playing centerfield.By transplant2AZ
May 27, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
Hatteberg leaves because the Reds still have done nothing to solve the C problem. How many years are we going to have to suck up 3 roster spots with what are essentially backup catchers? Let’s hope Votto doesn’t get hurt, or we will get the great and nimble Javier Valentin at 1B. Jay Bruce will be a great player. But expect a lot of strikeouts early on. Maybe he is up now because his “mentor” ADunn is currently hot. Go Reds…how about 5 wins on this homestand!By bill
May 27, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
Tom Shearn’s contract has been sold to the Samsung Lions of the Korean League.By Jack
May 27, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
With regards to Hatty, wish him the very best and hope he can sign with a team that can get him some at bats. While I would have rather seen Patterson leave (and no incentive contract whoever asked, he gets all 3.5 million), I can understand why it was Hatty and not Patterson.By Jack
May 27, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
EVERYONE, please remember that when you click “Post your comment” it takes a few seconds before it gets posted. If you click on it more then once, you have multiple posts.By Reds Authority
May 27, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
Allow me to BREAK the NEWS again: Scott Hatteburg has been designated for assignment. If you’ll recall, I was able to pass this along YESTERDAY (thanks to my sources). Again, Scott Hatteburg will soon no longer be a Cincinnati Red. He has been DFA (Designated for Assignment)…Regards, Reds AuthorityBy cdub
May 27, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Please get rid of Patterson…he is garbage and shows no emotion. The Reds need to find some players that show a little life out there.By Jake
May 27, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
As for the Reds themselves, I agree with most of you on DB and CP. This team isn’t going anywhere until Dusty is gone. He is terrible with the young players, especially young pitchers. Worse, he is far out of touch with the way the game is played now and his in-game strategy is usually awful. If he still puts Patterson in center tonight, I might cry. The only reason he is here because of Dusty’s keen eye for talent (and his thinking that Patterson actually has some); and Dusty’s infatuation with light-hitting, fast-running lead-off hitters who don’t get on base (see Juan Pierre in Chicago). If he wants to play Patterson, I can tolerate it, just bat him ninth like LaRussa and Ned Yost do in St. Louis and Milwaukee, respectively. Someone hitting .201, getting on base at only a .290 clip and slugging less than quite a few National League pitchers is someone who should not bat lead off.By Jake
May 27, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
Really?! you’re invoking god because Bruce was called up? I really don’t think he or she would give a s**t about the Cincinnati Reds’ fortunes. And click the post button once and, WAIT! It will work, I promise; then we do not have to see your idiot posts up there 5 timesBy Jim
May 27, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
By bringing up Jay Bruce now, will the Reds lose a year before he is arbitration-eligible (rather than, say, bringing him up in a month or 2)? If the Reds cut Corey Patterson, will they need to eat his most/all of $3M contract? Or, did he have an “incentive-laced” contract?By doug,franklin,ohio
May 27, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
praise God the reds have called up Jay Bruce.It will help some but they got other areas to work on.Get- R- Done for Jesus God bless the Reds.Love in Christ DougBy nullpreacher,franklin,ohio
May 27, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
praise god we will see how it turns out geter done for jesus god bless love in chirst preacher.By Michael in Monterey, CA
May 27, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Since the Reds are in the mood to make changes….Release Weathers NOW….and feel free to include Belisle and Lincoln.By zimmer
May 27, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Reds previous managment has made mistakes. They now are fixing those mistakes. It takes time. This is a slow process. Please be patient. Thanks (nephew of Don Zimmer)By will
May 27, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Hey kf they got this kid pitching named Volquez. Have you seen him pitch? He’s not too bad. I would hate to see where this team would be with Fogg going out there every 5 days rather than volquez. Also I’m not trying to compare Bruce to Dunn, god knows Bruce is a much more complete hitter, but Dunn did hit over .300 in the minors.By Stone
May 27, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
I love the comment about losing out on his 3M contract if CP gets cut like he should. When your ROI is 0, paying him to leave is better than his rear taking a spot up on the bench!By d-town
May 27, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Bruce will give a lift to the offense but wont help them win the division this year. The defense and middle relief are the main issues. I think this is just a move to distract critics from the real problems.By Keith Young
May 27, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
The only thing that would fire this team up is a cattle prod up the a** every time they do something stupid. The only problem is the prod would be fried by the sixth inning, and they get paid either way, so what’s the difference?By kf
May 27, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
What good will it do? They had a good player in Josh Hamilton and sent him on his way. The Reds don’t have a clue.By Barney
May 27, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Bruce will be on the team, but I bet DBaker still plays his “Cub Buddy” Corey Craperson half the time. Walt needs to tell Baker that Bruce PLAYS not sits the bench. Baker has proven he can’t make personnel decisions or do anything else very well either-that’s why he is no longer the manager of the Giants or Cubs. They know Baker can’t coach. Unfortunately the fans in Cincinnati are learning that now too.By MAC
May 27, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
It’s good to see a lot of folks recognize that Bruce and many of the other very young players on this team need to be given time, but they seem to forget that just a few short years ago, Belise, Dunn, Kearns where in the same position. Dunn and Kearns flew thru the Red’s minor leagues and who’s to say they weren’t rushed to the ML in an effort to save the organization? Maybe that’s why they are so inconsistent now? Votto and EE R 2 more that fit this description; a lot of these guys have very little time @ the AAA level and I think it shows night in and night out. They’re inconsistent at best and that’s just what you’d expect from young players w/ little AAA seasoning…see Cueto as well. Being young is not the major problem IMO, it’s that many of the players seem to lack the basic fundamentals “the little things” needed to be a successful player/organization and I think that problem has to be addressed at a much higher level. Problem #1 IMO is the lack of plate discipline & very little ability or willingness to shorten up their swing w/ 2 strikes or in key situations and hit the ball where it’s pitched…put the ball in play.By Jack
May 27, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Finally. This is the first step in the transition process. The kid will have good days and bad days. But please do not compares him to Adam Dunn. he will strikeout, but he will also put the ball in play way more then Dunn. He will be a good compliment to Dunn and Griffey. Next step is get rid of Belisle. Another waste. Hatty probably gets the “10 day assignment,” but would rather just cut ties with Patterson. The money has been spent, so ridding yourself of Patterson’s contract will be no fun, but when your getting zero on your return, who really cares.By jarrod
May 27, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
this will help immeasurably. bruce will be good immediately i predict and with dunn hitting and jr warming up look out for improved offense. jay bruce banner will hulk it up immediately and make this team the viable offense we thought it would be.By tom
May 27, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
All the best to JB. Let’s not be too critical, and give him time to work into the bigs. At least he brings talent, youth and energy which the Reds need. Now let’s pay back the Pirates for the sweep after our decent 6-4 start.By Gary
May 27, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Bruce will not help the Reds. They need to find pitching.By jls
May 27, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
wrong move…..leave him down there till after the All Star break..By chris
May 27, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
Renergize the team, yes. Turn the team around, no. Bruce needs to be here and in the line-up everyday. No more platooning. Patterson seems to be a very nice guy but his skills are almost gone. With that we as fans have to be patient with a 21 year old who will probably feel a bit of pressure to produce right away. Yes he strikes out but if he can hit over .300 and play defense I could live with that. Also I agree that moving Freel to third would be a great move. Edwin is to streaky and mostly not in a good way.By Jeff
May 27, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
This is step one of the de-culturalization of the Reds. By this I mean they need to head into a different direction. This team may win some games this year but let’s face it they arent going anywhere. Let Bruce and Votto learn up here. And for those of you screaming at Edwin remember the kid is only 24 and one of our best hitters with RISP. I wouls still move Dunn if they can because the reality is that he is going to want 5 years at about 13-16 million per. I understand the buys is 40&100 but the homers always seem to come at inopportune times. he gets hot for two weeks and then cold for two months. This is reality. Go young now and who knows they could be like the D-backs and who all of sudden surged. Let Griffey hit 600 (which at this pace will be sometime next year) and then move him, Dunn’s D-Day is June 15th when that waiver expires so I would move him as well. If they can’t afford them anyways then get value for them while you can.By will
May 27, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Its about time. But be patient people, he does strikeout a lot. 45 strikeouts to 12 walks thru 49 games. A strikeout prone left handed hitting outfielder. Where have I seen this story before?By nick
May 27, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
There is more to the Reds problems than just bringing in Bruce. There is something missing from the mix of these players and coaches. The term disfunctional is too strong. The mix and make up here isn’t right and it’s not all Baker’s fault. The long train of past managers and coaches have been given “chicken crap to make salad out of.” Sparky, Smoky,Billy or any of the past great MLB managers wouldn’t have the answer. What is, is and what isn’t, isn’t!By Jerry
May 27, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
If Walt is in the GM at the beginning..this C.Patterson deal doesn’t even happen..waste of Bob C’s money…he better be the guy on the Little Yellow Bus..out of town..maybe KC..will take him…PATHETIC, made some horrendous base running errors, .200 hitter and 200% on base avg..won’t get it done!!! I sure hope Cincy fans give JBruce some breathing room..he just turned 21..he’s a KID..! he’ ain’t sav’n this team…he’s ONE GUY…take a deep breath folks…!By josh
May 27, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
he strikes out more than Dunn has this year, so be ready for that.By michael
May 27, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
I think Bruce is ready, and will do well, but it takes 25 players to get it done. Reds will have to make the much talked about moves, ie trade Griffey, in order to “re- energize”. Griffey is a leader by nature of stature. Wether he wants to be a leader or not, the young players idolize him and will follow his example.By sam
May 27, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
If Bruce does play well then Baker will bench him!By bill
May 27, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Hey Rich, Patterson should be sitting on a bench at his home!By Rich
May 27, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this
I hope the Dusty gets really bold, and besides putting Patterson on the far end of the bench, sit Encarnacion next to him, and put Freel at 3B, batting lead-off. Sparky Anderson had success with a similar move some years back.By Buckfan69
May 27, 2008 7:26 AM | Link to this
I hope the kid does great, but I don’t think it will matter. Until this group begins to play solid fundamental baseball and do the little things an actual ‘team’ does to win ballgames it won’t matter how many .340 hitters you get into the lineup. It’ll just mean more guys LOB. They’ve probably already got the major league record for most runners left on 3rd base with less than 2 outs anyway.By MAC
May 27, 2008 7:05 AM | Link to this
Well, it’s hard to understanding why they waited this long and why they would do it now less than a week from the 1 June date? Let’s just hope when the kid struggles (it’s going to happen) that “fans” don’t run the kid out of town. Good news is, the team is still in it even after a tough road trip.By boxter
May 27, 2008 5:43 AM | Link to this
Those are great minor league numbers BUT they are minor league numbers. I’ll say he will start hot and then fall off FAST. A .240 hitter in the bigs. He’s a year or 2 away from sticking.By buddy
May 27, 2008 4:28 AM | Link to this
It was a matter of time.After Patterson’s pathetic 0-8,and it’s not just the o-fer,it’s they were bad ab’s.He has his head some where else other than on top of his neck.He makes bad baseball decisions,things high school players shouldn’t make.He is clueless as far as fundamentals are concerned.I don’t get what Baker sees in him.Maybe Patterson’s a fine young man,but that never put a guy in the starting line-up on any team I ever played on,and shouldn’t.I think he needs a new place to play,anyplace but Cincinnati.By Randy Plessinger
May 27, 2008 12:32 AM | Link to this
Don’t overlook the fact that Chris Speier is 2-0 as the Manager this year. Dusty can’t match that winning percentage. Are the Reds going to eat Patterson’s contract? Hey Hal, your NY story about walking the streets all-night just proved that we men are too proud to ask for directions. Ha! Ha! Take care!By Y-City Jim
May 26, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
If they can make a decent trade for Hatteberg then I am for it. Jocketty has to assert control and he can do that by telling Dusty “NO” and ridding the team of Patterson.By John
May 26, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
I too think Hatteburg is gone Tuesday, probably DFA’d. They’ve got Valentin to back up 1st, along with Dunn (if they really have to), and Keppinger has filled in over there on occassion. That being said, I’m really looking forward to seeing how Bruce does. Just remember Reds fans, the guy can’t hit a HR evertime up, and he will strikeout from time to time. Don’t get on the young guy and try to run him out of town by the time he’s 25 if he doesn’t live up to these Superman-like predictions.By tired of tards
May 26, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
My sources say: Scott Hatteburg is the one leaving (read: trade) and Patterson will sit the bench. Sources??? Put away your mom’s quija board and go back to bed. School is back in session tomorrow and you can go back to stealing lunch money from freshmen.By got milk
May 26, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
What’s the over/under on walk up sales for tomorrow’s game? I’d put it at 5,000.By GR
May 26, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
Two weeks ago, the Reds were facing the Marlins, Indians, and seven days on the west coast. We’d have all taken 8-5 back then. I still believe in this team if they could add some offense and get one more starter. I think Bruce will be much better than what we’ve run out there in CF. Right now I’m ready for anyone but Belisle, and I’ll take our chances.By Mark in Sun Valley
May 26, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
Finally. Bruce has arrived. Watching Patterson fail to execute simple plays like sacrafice bunts or even just take a pitch after a pitcher makes the second out of an inning was maddening. He has to be gone. Now to get around Baker’s “unorthodox” managing style. He seems to want to be is unpredictable but his decisions come out as bad baseball. Although I am certain Patterson is the one to go now, the Reds have to make another move in position players. Whether you call it 3 catchers or 3 left handed firt basemen, they have too little flexibility. Jorbert Cabrerra has played 7 positions in his career? An interesting side note, on the Louisville Bats roster, Tom Shearns is listed as “reassigned”. Could he be coming up and Fogg or Belisle be gone as well? And Mercker had a solid inning on rehab, so he will be back soon. And out of curoisity, is Hopper anywhere close to returning?By Reds Authority
May 26, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
My sources say: Scott Hatteburg is the one leaving (read: trade) and Patterson will sit the bench.By redberkey
May 26, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
If the strategy was to keep him in the minors until 6/1 to buy the Reds an extra year why call him up now and not wait until next week.By rob
May 26, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
Hal, that is a brutal travel schedule. I guess you are used to it. What more can you say about Bruce? I can’t wait for the game tomorrow. I’m guessing Hatteberg is the one let go.By Y-City Jim
May 26, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this
A release of Patterson will signal that Jocketty is telling Baker that his (Baker) days of making personnel decisions are over.By AP-FLORIDA
May 26, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this
My gues is Josh in a Fogg or David RossBy ShockMonkey
May 26, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
Welcome home Hal. From San Diego to Dayton. Can you still see the ocean out your backdoor? Per Reds, Bruce gets the call but an early look at the lineup card shows Patterson in CF. kiddingBy AP-FLORIDA
May 26, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
can wesend rusty baker to the minors? No? Wishful thinking!By oskar
May 26, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
Goodbye Cory, we hardly knew ye.By Stone
May 26, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
Please tell me this means Corey Suckerson is out the door. PLEASE. If they release Freel after his output with the bat lately and defense and keep Patterson, I’m going to stop watching the games. Patterson needs to go, and he deserves the release more than anyone.By Y-City Jim
May 26, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
This needs to be coupled with the release of Patterson. He is the worst offensive player on the team.By Mark (Lexington, KY)
May 26, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
Thank goodness! He may not put up the kind of numbers that he did at Louisville, but he’s gonna be better than Patterson. I certainly hope the roster move involves cutting bait with Corey. Listening to Wayne Krivsky’s parting comments on roster moves on his watch, it sounds like the signing of Patterson was a direct order from Big Bob based on Dusty’s wishes. So, this serving of salary is compliments of the owner..You can’t tag Krivsky with this one.By HuberTucky
May 26, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this
This is great news and a wonderful excellent awesome, post, Hal! Yee Haa, Reds fans! Now we’ll see some new enegry and life and added excitement breathed into the team. Seems when they call up an eager young guy that some of it rubs off. Look at then Yanish came up! Game winning hit, Freel kneed him in the nose and bloodied him. Just tell Bruce to beware of the raging maniac Freel and he’ll be fine… especially if Ryan wants to go out for “a beer” after the game. Go Reds! Rest up, Hal…it’s about to get interesting. Oh, and who will they move to make room for Bruce?By Ian
May 26, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
Life as a Reds fan just got a lot easier.