Yankees’ Bruce, 34, opts for retirement
NEW YORK – Jay Bruce had seen enough. Having made the New York Yankees’ opening-day roster, he couldn’t stomach his poor start to the season.
So the three-time All-Star outfielder decided to retire Sunday, just 15 days past his 34th birthday.
“Just the consistent underperformance for me,” he said before the game against Tampa Bay, his voice quavering at times. “Felt like I wasn’t able to do it at a level that was acceptable for myself.”
Bruce informed Yankees manager Aaron Boone of his decision during a 20-minute meeting in the manager’s office on Friday, then made a public announcement before Sunday’s game. Bruce received an ovation when shown on the video board before the eighth inning but did not get in the game.
Bruce went to spring training with the Yankees on a minor league contract and made the major league roster as a first baseman when Luke Voit injured a knee, earning a $1.35 million one-year deal.
He hit .118 with one homer and three RBIs in 39 plate appearances this year. He started the first eight games at first base but just two of the next seven. DJ LeMahieu shifted to first from second until Voit returns in a few weeks, and newly acquired Rougned Odor was inserted at second.
Bruce had a .244 average with 319 homers and 951 RBIs in 14 major league seasons with Cincinnati (2008-16), the New York Mets (2016-18), Cleveland (2017), Seattle (2019), Philadelphia (2019-20) and the Yankees.
“I was so lucky to have set a standard for myself throughout my career that was frankly very good most of the time,” he said. “And I don’t feel that I’m able to do that, and I think that was the determining factor and in the decision. And I feel good about that decision and I feel thankful honestly to myself that I could be honest enough with myself to to understand that it’s time for this chapter to close.”
Bruce’s best memory was his gameending inning homer off Houston’s Tim Byrdak in 2010 that clinched Cincinnati’s first division title since 1995.
“The weirdest part about that is that I was 23 at the time and I thought stuff like that happened all the time,” he said. “To know that the single moment that I’m going to remember most of my career was 10 or 11 years ago now is pretty crazy. And looking back, it makes me appreciate everything else more because so much has happened since then. I’ve been included and around a lot of different, incredible situations.
“I saw Ken Griffey’s Jr.’s 600th home run, been part of multiple no-hitters, big games, with (Cleveland) won 22 games in a row. I hit the walk-off double to win the 22nd game. I didn’t reach the top of the hill. I didn’t reach the pinnacle. I didn’t win that World Series, but that’s OK.”
Bruce spent 43 games with Cleveland in 2017 after he was acquired from the Mets in a trade.
“He’s a great kid,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said.