Jay Bruce feels like he never left Mets, speaks highly of ‘great’ Mickey Callaway 

PORT ST. LUCIE — Jay Bruce walked back into the Mets clubhouse around 9:30 on Thursday morning, and nothing about it felt strange to the returning right fielder.

"No, it was actually the opposite. It was very, very comfortable," Bruce said before the Mets worked out at First Data Field. "It was honestly like I never left.


"Obviously, I went and had a lot of fun and had some great experiences over in Cleveland, but I'm back here now and hopefully here for the long haul."

The Mets waited out the stagnant free-agent market and convinced Bruce to accept a three-year deal worth $39 million in January. The lefty slugger had been salary-dumped to Cleveland last August, and the Indians — with incoming Mets manager Mickey Callaway serving as their pitching coach — won the AL Central title before losing to the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs.

"I'm really excited. It's obviously a welcomed sight to walk back in here. I'm excited about what's to come," Bruce said. "We don't know what's going to happen yet. But the team the Mets have put together on paper, with Mickey running the show, I'm really excited about the possibility and opportunity.

"I like our team, man, I really do. I think that it all goes back to health and if we're healthy, I'd put us up against anyone….I think we just have to do everything we can to stay on the field and stay healthy and just play baseball."

Bruce finished last season with 36 homers and 101 RBI combined for the Mets and the Indians; he expects to form a potent middle of the lineup with Yoenis Cespedes and fellow free-agent signing Todd Frazier, a longtime teammate in Cincinnati.

Jay Bruce is back with the Mets after being shipped to the Indians.
Jay Bruce is back with the Mets after being shipped to the Indians. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

"I think when Ces is on the field, the numbers speak for themselves. He's obviously a game changer and like I said, everyone needs to do everything they can to stay in the lineup, and if we do that, I like our chances," Bruce said of Cespedes, who was limited to 81 games last season due to multiple leg injuries. "And (Frazier), we played a long time in Cincinnati together. I know he's excited to be here and we're excited to have him. He comes every day ready to play, so I look forward to that."

Bruce also spoke highly again of Callaway, saying: "He's great. He's a normal dude. He has some experience, but he's a little younger and he's gonna be able to do what's necessary as far as dealing with and creating a relationship with the team. He's not a big rules guy, but he expects a lot out of you, because he expects a lot out of himself. I think preparation and working hard and being prepared, that's paramount. I think as long as we do that, there's not gonna be any issues."

Plenty of issues still remain with the current free-agent class, however, with a multitude of marquee names still unsigned as camps open across baseball.

"Man, it's crazy. I've never seen anything like it," the 30-year-old Bruce said. "I just hope for everyone that they end up getting to where they wanted to get to, and everyone finding jobs, and getting back going. I don't know what there really is to say about it.

"I'm sure many people have a lot of different thoughts and theories and whatever, but fortunately I don't have to concern myself with it too much. But I do hope that there is a resolution to it all, and everyone finds their spot, and no one is left without a chair when the music stops."