Baseball America has selected OF Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds’ system as the 2007 Minor League Player of the Year. ***UPDATE: Sporting News agrees***
Bruce has certainly been seen in many minor-league ballparks this season, as he advanced from the A+ Sarasota Reds to the AAA Louisville Bats over the course of the 2007 season. He never faltered on that journey, ending his season with a .319 batting average, 89 RBIs, and 306 total bases as he toured the farm system.
Bruce was never called up to the big club, despite a late-season rash of injuries to the parent organization’s outfielders. Club executives declined to call Bruce up in September, when the three starters were all healthy, and decided to stick with that decision even as they fell. Bruce, in Cincy to accept his award, was philosophical:
“I definitely wish I got called up, but I understood the situation with the outfielders and everything. You can’t take anything away from anything those guys have done this year. They definitely earned their spots here.”
He plans to battle for a spot on the team (in training camp).
“Whether or not I have chance to make the team, that’s not going to even come into a factor,” Bruce said. “I think that will play itself out, to be honest — with the all the guys and situations. We’ll have to wait and see.”
[MLB.com]
Looks like “Meat” has learned his cliches, and he’s ready for the show. Look for him to put on a show during Spring Training and get a locker with his name on it next year.
Posted by Emmett on May 28, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Did you see jay last night at the game, 3-3 with 2 rbi’s two singles two wlks and a double