Big League Chatter

Cincinnati Reds prospects Homer Bailey and Jay Bruce are making plenty of noise at Triple A Louisville in 2008.  Both players are in a position to get the call to the big club any day now and nothing would please Reds fans more than to see that happen.  The Reds have taken a cautious approach with their young talent and with new GM Walt Jocketty calling the shots they might not see the Majors at all this season.  When Jocketty was with the Cardinals he was hesitant to rely on young talent to fill roster spots.  Now with the Reds, it’s a wait and see approach when it comes to the futures of Bailey and Bruce.

Homer Bailey is a 6′-4", 205lb., right hander out of the great state of Texas.  Bailey, now 22, was drafted 7th overall in the first round of the 2004 first year player draft.  He pitched 45.1 innings in 2007, for the Reds, going 4-2 with a 5.76 ERA while walking 28 and striking out 28.  Thus far this season he has gone  4-4 with a 3.88 ERA in 55.2 innings pitched for the Louisville Bats.  It was rumored that if Bailey pitched well in his last start he would get the nod next time Matt Belisle’s spot in the rotation came around.  On May 16th Bailey pitched 5 innings giving up 4 hits, 4 earned runs, six walks, and 4 strike outs.  It was not the type of outing that usually gets one promoted to the Majors.  But Bailey has electric stuff and it is just a matter of time before he replaces Belisle in the rotation.  Belisle has gone 1-3 with a 7.45 ERA in 19.1 innings thus far in 2008.  His last outing on May 10th he pitched 5 innings allowing 7 hits, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, while only striking out 2. 

Jay Bruce on the other hand is smoking hot, hitting .359 with 9 homers, 35 RBI’s, while swiping 8 bags.  Bruce is another Texan who was also drafted in the first round.  Jay was the 12th overall pick in the 2005 first year player draft.  He is a physical presence for a 21 year old standing 6′-3" and weighing in at 205 pounds.  Bruce can do it all at the plate and he has a good glove to go along with his offensive skills.  While batting from the left side Bruce was the 2007 Minor League Player of the Year.  He batted .319 with 26 home runs and 89 RBI’s last season, splitting time between three levels of the Reds Minor League system.  The obvious need for the Reds is in center field where they have a struggling Corey Patterson filling the role.  Patterson is only hitting .227 with 4 home runs, 12 RBI’s and 7 stolen bases in 119 at bats.  Another option for the Reds is, super utility man, Ryan Freel.  Unlike Patterson, Freel is producing when he gets an opportunity.  Freel is batting .320 with 5 stolen bases in 97 at bats.  Although it would be easy to give Bruce the starting center field job, the Reds feel that he is best suited to play a corner outfield spot, which is occupied by Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr.  If the Reds trade Dunn or Griffey look for Bruce to get the promotion.  If the Reds don’t make a trade we might have to wait a bit longer to see Bruce in the Majors.  But at the rate he is hitting the Reds may not be able to keep him in the Minors much longer.