The Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels organization is proud to announce that respected baseball prospect company Baseball America has named Squirrels OF Jay Bruce as its Minor League Player of the Year.
Bruce, a 2005 1st-round draft pick of the Reds (12th overall) and 2007 late-round B.A.R.B. pick by the Squirrels, hit .319 with 26 HR and 89 RBI in 133 games over 3 levels, including .305-11-25 in 50 games in AAA as a 20-year-old. Bruce also hit 46 2B and 8 3B and scored 87 times.
He did, however, strike out 135 times and was successful in only 8 of his 15 stolen base attempts (although he stole 19 in 2006).
"We are going to love having this kid patrol center or right for us in just a few years," said Frostbite Falls Owner/GM Andrew Haynes. "I think he definitely has a chance to be a consistent 30-homer, 20 steal guy. He'll hit for a good average and strike out less as he matures. And his defense is already good. Jay is going to be one heck of a player."
At one point early in the season, the Squirrels had three players who now have BA Player of the Year awards in their trophy cases. Alex Gordon (2006 winner) was traded in the Carlos Beltran deal, and Rocco Baldelli (2002) was dealt to S-Mart as part of a package to acquire Luis Castillo.
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