It has been expected most of the spring, Jay Bruce was not going to make the Opening Day roster.  On Thursday it was confirmed as the Reds' optioned last year's Minor League Player of the Year back to Triple  A Louisville.

The 20-year old was given a shot at the centerfield job as camp broke, but after hitting an unimpressive .262 with just 0 HR's and and 3 RBI's manager Dusty Baker opted to go in a different direction on the big league roster and will now give Bruce a chance to go down and play everyday.

"I'll be back," Bruce told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "When I am, I'll look back on this day and laugh."

"I'm disappointed," he said. "My goal was to make the team. But I understand they're doing what's in the best interest of me and the team. It's not a slap in the face."

Bruce's quick rise for A to AAA last year was impressive, but there don't appear to be much of arguement against giving him more time in Louisville.

"Jay's real close," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "I told him it's nothing he did wrong - just tighten up your game. Experience will do a lot of that. Desire and determination will do the rest."

Baker now will have to decide between newcomer Corey Patterson, who played for him as a Cub, and incumbents Norris Hopper and Ryan Freel to see which player will be the starter when the season begins and how he will break up the playing time at the position.