CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jay Bruce had packed for a four-day road trip to Philadelphia when he got the call he was being traded to Cleveland from the New York Mets.
The Indians were just starting an 11-day road trip in Tampa, and Bruce joined the club a little shorthanded for the remainder of their journey.
"I recycled a lot of shirts and pants," Bruce said. "But it's all good, I'm here now."
Jumping from New York to Cleveland didn't faze the 10-year veteran, who said Monday that once a player has been traded to New York, the shock of being traded away from New York comes with less of a "wow factor."
Bruce also said Indians players and staff have made the transition pretty seamless.
"I came to a team that was great before I got here, and that alone takes so much of the potential pressure off of you," Bruce said. "You're coming into a situation that was already awesome. For me to be able to slide in and continue playing baseball the way I play it, it fits in with these guys."
Bruce hasn't missed a beat. He's hitting .375 and slugging .725 with three home runs, five doubles and 12 RBI. But Bruce says he's not trying to do too much at the plate, and that's one of the reasons Cleveland traded for him.
"I'm not trying to be Superman and I'm not trying to be anything but myself," he said. "There's no pressure because this team was already doing what they were doing before. I'm just trying to add another piece to the puzzle."
Bruce's fit with the Indians also has a lot to do with his past success hitting at Progressive Field. In 23 career games in Cleveland, Bruce is hitting .384 (33-for-86) with six doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI. He owns a career .593 slugging percentage here and a sparkling 1.031 OPS.
Bruce, who played the bulk of his games in Cleveland with Cincinnati as part of the annual interleague Ohio Cup matchup, offered no specific reason for his success, but manager Terry Francona said location might not have a lot to do with it.
"I think Jay's a good hitter in any ballpark," Francona said. "He's given us a presence in that five hole that's really good."
Francona said eventually when Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley return from injury, Bruce's bat gives the Indians a chance to have a much deeper lineup.
"He's been as-advertised," Francona said. "And we're excited about it."