Bruce makes more than impressive debut

May 28, 2008 - 1:57 PM By Zachary Ingraham PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

It was a storybook beginning for Jay Bruce.

Playing in his first career major league game, Bruce went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI, two walks, a stolen base and two runs scored as the Cincinnati Reds posted a 9-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.

"I don't think you can write it any better than that," said an elated Bruce, whose face was covered with shaving cream after the game.

Even before stepping into the batter's box, Bruce was having a good day. The 21-year-old center fielder got to play in the same outfield as boyhood-idol Ken Griffey Jr. and he was penciled into the No. 2 spot in the batting order - right in front of the future Hall of Famer.

"It's always been my dream to play with Ken Griffey Jr., and here I am," Bruce said. "I can't believe it."

From there, Bruce's night only got better. He played with the kind of poise one would expect from a grizzled veteran than a rookie making his major league debut.

"I was a lot more calm than I thought I was going to be," said Bruce, who was batting .364 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI with Class AAA Louisville before his promotion. "It was fun getting warmed up and everything. It almost felt like another baseball game.

"I think the most important thing for a debut is getting a win and that was awesome. Hopefully, there's a lot more coming."

Bruce drew a four-pitch walk in his first at-bat in the opening frame and collected his first career hit in his next at-bat in the third, receiving a standing ovation from the Cincinnati faithful in attendance.

Widely considered the top prospect in baseball, Bruce drew another walk in the fifth and scored his first career run on Adam Dunn's three-run home run.

It took him to his fourth at-bat before Bruce finally picked up an RBI when he laced a single to left-center field with the bases-loaded to score Paul Bako. He then scored on Dunn's RBI single later in the frame.

"That's a positive sign, the fact he's using the whole field," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "A lot of guys come up and they're trying to pull and hit a home run. He's staying within himself and did what he does best."

Bruce had his most impressive at-bat in the seventh when he got ahead 3-0 and fought off a couple of tough pitches before hammering a full-count offering off the right field wall for an RBI double.

"That's probably as good of a debut I've ever seen," said Baker, a veteran of 40 major league seasons. "He made his debut well documented and something he'll never forget. You see what's there. You see why he's so highly touted. He picked up here where he left off in Triple-A."

With his dynamic performance, Bruce earned the respect of many of his peers and certainly got the attention of others.