Sports stats



MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Jay Bruce Among 20 Greatest Dragons

March 29, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Jay Bruce with the Dayton Dragons
Jay Bruce with the Dayton Dragons
(Dayton Dragons)

Dayton, Ohio-The Dayton Dragons today announced the next name on their list of "20 Greatest Dragons." The player recognition is part of the organization's 20th Season Celebration. Players selected on the list of 20 are being announced in random order leading up to the Dragons 20th Opening Night game on Thursday, April 4 against the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Next on the list of the 20 Greatest Dragons is:

Jay Bruce

Bruce spent the 2006 season with the Dragons and enjoyed a huge season after being selected in the first round of the previous June's draft. As a 19-year-old, Bruce batted .291 with 16 home runs and 81 runs batted in. He was the "Star of Stars" (MVP) of the Midwest League All-Star Game after hitting a two-run home run in the game.

Bruce made his much-anticipated Major League debut with the Reds in 2008. Despite not joining the club that season until May 27, Bruce finished the year with 21 home runs, the third highest total ever by a Reds rookie. Bruce went on to represent the Reds in three MLB all-star games and won the National League Silver Slugger Award in both 2012 and 2013. He hit at least 25 home runs for the Reds six times including a high of 34 in 2012. When Bruce was dealt by the Reds in 2016, he ranked seventh in Reds history in career home runs and was one of only six players in franchise history to have at least 1,000 hits and at least 225 home runs with the team.

Bruce has played for the Mets, Indians, and Mariners over the last three seasons. His career home run total of 286 entering the 2019 season ranked 10th among active players, and at age 32, he was younger than eight of the nine players ahead of him on the list.

Bruce joins the following players who have been previously announced as the 20 Greatest Dragons: Austin Kearns, Zack Cozart, Justin Turner, Homer Bailey, Samone Peters, Devin Mesoraco, Didi Gregorius, Tucker Barnhart, Todd Frazier, Wily Mo Peña, Jesse Winker, Edwin Encarnacion, Johnny Cueto, Luis Bolivar, and Jose Siri.

The 20 Greatest Dragons were selected based on a media vote of Dragons television, newspaper, radio, and internet reporters. Additionally, during the 2019 season, the Dragons will be conducting a fan vote featuring one player per position to announce their all-time greatest lineup.

The Dragons will host their "20th Season Celebration Game" on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. The game will match the 2019 Dragons ("Team 20") against a team of Dragons alumni who are still playing in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system.

Individual game tickets for the Dragons 20th Season Celebration Game are available now. Go to daytondragons.com/celebrationgame or Ticketmaster.com.

Additional information on the Dragons 20th Season celebration including videos on the 20 Greatest Dragons, special 20th Season merchandise, and Dragons alumni listings is available here: https://www.milb.com/dayton/team/20.

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics




Images from this story

Jay Bruce with the Dayton Dragons
Jay Bruce with the Dayton Dragons
   



Midwest League Stories from March 29, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central