SARASOTA, Fla. -- On any given day this spring, outfielder Jay Bruce will move comfortably through the Reds clubhouse, confident in his abilities and at ease with himself.

The attention he gets for being Cincinnati's top prospect? Bruce appears to be handling it well. The rookie hazing that comes courtesy of Bruce's veteran teammates? No problem.

"I think when you come in here, you have to be normal," Bruce said. "Being star struck doesn't help. Just be yourself and let the pieces fall where they may. When they give me a hard time, it's all in fun. I have a good time with it."

Earlier this week, the new cover of a team publication featured Bruce with a title reading 'The Next Big Thing.' Left fielder and fellow Texan Adam Dunn made Bruce autograph several copies and distribute them around the clubhouse. As a prank, Dunn sent Bruce to Baker's office, telling the rookie his skipper wanted one too.

Dunn keeps a signed Bruce cover on the front of his locker as a joke.

"I think he's handling himself great," Dunn said. "I just told him to be himself and have fun with it. Everybody is going to have fun with him. He's doing it. He's enjoying it."

Bruce finished 2007 as Minor League Player of the Year, according to Baseball America, which reaffirmed his elite status on Wednesday when it named him the top prospect in all of baseball coming into the 2008 season.

With Bruce fully aware that Major League stardom is just around the corner, especially if he wins the spring battle to be the Reds' starting center fielder, it would be understood if he showed some youthful over-exuberance or cockiness.

Yet, he has showed neither, not even a hint.

"Bragging doesn't get you anywhere," Bruce said. "People notice the type of person you are, the type of player you are. What I've learned from a lot of these guys, especially the older ones, [is] they've done things in this game no one has even thought of. They don't have to sit around and talk about it."

New manager Dusty Baker first got to know Bruce during January's Reds Winter Caravan tour. Baker, who broke into the Majors 40 years ago as a 19-year-old with the Braves, has also watched Bruce and liked how conducts his business.

"Talking to him, he's very confident he can hit without being arrogant," Baker said. "That's the first thing you like to see in a young hitter. The confidence part is something you can't give them. And you'd rather not see them arrogant, because then they won't listen if you have to correct something.

"He's a very mature young man. It sounds like he's had a lot of responsibility for a young age in his life. You can sort of tell. It makes you grow up rather quickly," Baker added.

Bruce, who grew up in Beaumont, Texas, sowed the seeds of his eventual career start when his father -- Joe -- pitched Wiffle balls to him as a two-year-old.

At the same time, the seeds of staying grounded as a person also took root. It didn't change when Bruce became a teenager, even when dozens of scouts would show up to watch him play high school baseball.

"It's the way I was brought up," Bruce said. "[My parents] taught me not to take anything for granted. I have a sister [Kellan] that is mentally retarded. She really makes me put things in perspective. The smallest things make her so happy -- riding her bike, being able to walk outside, listening to music or going to the mall. That kind of stuff excites her."

In 2005, Bruce was the Reds' first-round Draft pick [12th overall]. It took the five-tool talent only three years to reach the big league precipice. Last season, he batted a combined .319 with 26 home runs, 89 RBIs, 46 doubles and eight triples as he climbed from Class A Sarasota to Double-A Chattanooga to Triple-A Louisville.

In December, the Reds traded center fielder Josh Hamilton to the Rangers, but the move doesn't guarantee Bruce a big league job. Ryan Freel and Norris Hopper are also battling for the center-field spot.

"Obviously when it comes to experience, they have the edge," Bruce said. "Hopefully I play well and push the subject as well as I can. Then, we'll see what happens."

On Wednesday, Bruce notched his first spring hit for the Reds in their spring opener against the Phillies. The opposing pitcher was tough veteran lefty Jamie Moyer, who debuted in the Majors in 1986 -- nearly a year before Bruce was born.

Baker has a history of preferring veteran players and he hasn't wavered much from that position during camp. He has often lauded over Hopper, who was a 29-year-old rookie last season with nearly 3,400 Minor League at-bats.

"I feel like [Baker] gives everyone a legitimate shot," Bruce said. "But he's going to go with who helps the team the most. That's what anyone wants. I don't want to be on the team if I can't help. I feel like I can. Hopefully, it's just a matter of time when I'm there."

If Bruce doesn't win the job, he will likely start 2008 at Louisville so he can get regular at-bats.

"He could definitely play in the big leagues now," Dunn said. "He was upset last year that they started him in 'A' ball. I told him if he goes out and plays well, they can't keep you in 'A' ball. And they can't keep you in Double-A, and they can't keep you in Triple-A if you're playing well. He proved that last year. Hopefully if he plays well here, he'll make the team. If he doesn't, I said play well in Louisville and they'll find room for you."

For the Reds, that would be a good problem to have.