Jay Bruce was not in a Cleveland Indians uniform for long.
But he sure made his presence known during his short tenure in town.
Bruce is in the news Sunday after announcing his retirement before the New York Yankees took on the Tampa Bay Rays.
He wanted to give it one more go in 2021 and ultimately decided to hang up his cleats for good after a 5-10 Yankees start.
Bruce made a name for himself as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
Indians fans remember him best for his several months with the team in 2017.
Remembering Jay Bruce’s Time in Cleveland
The Indians acquired Bruce via a waiver trade back in August 2017.
His history-making moment came the following month as the Indians were looking to pick up win No. 22 in a row.
Congratulations on a great career to the man who brought us one of the most iconic moments in franchise history.
Enjoy retirement, Jay! pic.twitter.com/eNOOZ7h1Gb
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) April 18, 2021
This was a guy who showed up a month prior as a late-season pickup.
The reaction from his teammates and the fans showed he was a perfect fit.
Bruce appeared in 43 regular season games for the Indians and played in all five postseason games during the 2017 ALDS.
He provided fans with yet another clutch hit as the team appeared to be set on a path to return to the World Series.
That did not happen, but his October home run in Game 2 of the ALDS was still magical.
Jay Bruce ties it up! pic.twitter.com/qdmCGRFGWJ #ALDS #TheLand #Cleveland #JayBruce
— HighlightHub (@HighlightHub_) October 7, 2017
The Indians have not won a playoff game since that special night.
A Memorable Stint During a Fun Era
Bruce sits alongside the likes of Mike Napoli, Rajai Davis, and Edwin Encarnacion as key players during that exciting run of Indians baseball.
He came in as a veteran rental, fit in right away, and produced at the plate.
That is all the team could ask for and the Bruce deal became one of the biggest no-brainers in recent Indians history.
The player he was traded for, Ryder Ryan, has yet to appear in an MLB game.
Bruce’s career took a downturn following the 2017 season.
He signed a three-year deal with the New York Mets, only to be sent to Seattle a year later in the Robinson Cano deal.
Seattle then sent him to Philadelphia where he spent half of 2019 and all of 2020.
A return with the Yankees did not go as planned and now the 34-year-old gets to enjoy everyday life outside of baseball.
Bruce was not in Cleveland for long.
But it is unfair to talk about the magical 22-game win streak without bringing his name up for what was unforgettable moment in the city.
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