Is Jay Bruce Going To Live Up to His Potential in 2010?

Bruuuuuce.

It's a sound that Reds fans bellow every time Jay Bruce steps up to the plate.

Outsiders may think the noise is some sort of boo. The reality is quite the opposite—Bruce is a vital piece of the 2010 Cincinnati Reds, and the fans know it.

He has quickly become one of the most beloved players on the team. 

After being touted as a "can't miss" prospect coming up, he has struggled to live up to lofty expectations. After a red-hot start to his pro career in '08, his bat has cooled off mightily.

Last year, Bruce began to fall in love with the long ball while failing to reach base at a consistent rate. He hit 22 home runs but hit just .223 with a .303 on-base percentage.

Bruce himself wasn't too pleased with his 2009 season.

"I was embarrassed with the way I played last year. I expect way more than what I was doing," Bruce said. "That's not me."

After breaking his wrist against the Mets in July, Bruce was able to sit back and learn from the vets.

He was immediately catapulted into a starting role and never had the chance to soak in the small details that must be grasped in order to be successful at the major league level.

He was able to come back in September, and the difference was noticeable. Upon his return, Bruce hit .375 in 12 games.

Maybe he just needed a mental break after experiencing failure for the first time in his life. Then again, it was only 12 games against the Astros and the Pirates. But he goes into this season with lofty expectations from not only himself, but his coach and teammates as well.

"He hasn't even scratched the surface on what he can do and what he's going to be," said Reds manager Dusty Baker.

"If he hits .223 or whatever he hit, I would be absolutely shocked. I think he's fine," said 1B Joey Votto.

"I think it's a good year for him. Everyone thinks having a bump along the road is a bad thing, I think it's a great thing for him. It happened in the best year for him, when we were losing."

Bruce's stats through 16 games and 40 at-bats aren't drastic improvements—he's hitting .250/.286/.475 this spring—but it sounds like he's feeling much more comfortable at the plate.

"I'm still working on that every day to be consistent," Bruce said earlier this week. "It's going well, I'm making progress, and things are going where they need to be going."

His range in right field is average, but one facet of his game never questioned is his arm strength. He has a cannon for a right arm that will certainly make runners think twice before advancing on his watch.

As Opening Day inches closer, Bruce looks to be a candidate for the five or six spot in the lineup.

Votto and SS Brandon Phillips will provide protection for the slugger. Having Scott Rolen in front of him should enhance his RBI totals.

If he can increase his OPS and cut down on the Ks, the future for Bruce and the Reds is bright.

"Every year there's a buzz around us, they always say we can be the sleeper, dark horse, whatever, but the bottom line is it comes down to doing it," said Bruce.

"We haven't done anything in 10 years and until we do, it's going to be tough to make people believe we're capable of doing it. If we go out and play this year like we know how and take care of business and people stay healthy, we've got as good a chance as anyone. We're as capable of anyone of doing it, but we've got to do it, that's the bottom line."

Bottom line: The Reds will not be successful without a major contribution from Jay Bruce.

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