Cincinnati Reds: 3 Things Jay Bruce Must Fix to Become an MLB Superstar

Jay Bruce emerged as a bona fide slugger for the Cincinnati Reds last season, clubbing 32 home runs and racking up an impressive 97 RBI.

That said, the young outfielder still has plenty of room for improvement.

If Bruce can bolster these three aspects of his game this season, he could legitimately become an MLB superstar...

Swing Smarter

Bruce batted a mediocre .256 last season, but he could easily improve that mark if he becomes more choosy at the plate.

In particular, he needs to cut down on ugly swings early in the count. 

When facing an 0-2 or 1-2 count, Bruce batted a dismal .111 last season. On the other hand, when facing one or fewer strikes, he knocked the cover off the ball. 

If he can practice more patience in the box this season, his batting average should see a major hike.

Consistency, Consistency, Consistency

When Bruce is at his best he can hit the ball as well as anyone in the league.

So, what's the problem? He is remarkably inconsistent.

Bruce batted .342 and clobbered 12 of his 32 home runs in the month of May last season but failed to eclipse the .260 mark for the remainder of the year.

Major league hitters have slumps now and then, sure, but Bruce's inconsistency has been an issue throughout his young career. We've seen what he can do when he puts it all together, but keeping it together is the key.

Aggression on the Base Paths

Bruce isn't a base stealer by trade, but he does possess the speed to surprise some people on the base paths.

After stealing just eight bags last season, he cut 16 pounds this offseason in hopes of improving that speed.

Power hitters with wheels are a rare breed, so if he can become more aggressive while on base, he could be an incredible weapon in the heart of the Reds' order.

If Bruce starts swiping bases regularly, opponents will have to give him more pitches in the zone to avoid walking him. That's where he could really put his power to good use.