The Cincinnati Reds Winter Caravan made a stop in Vevay at the Historic Hoosier Theater last Thursday, bringing All Star Jay Bruce and several other baseball celebrities to Switzerland County.
The Switzerland County stop was a part of the Western leg of the Caravan, with two other caravans going on over the same time period in different sections of the Midwest.
This was the fourth consecutive year that the caravan has made a stop here.
Popular Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman thanked the overflow crowd for coming out for the event, noting that he had been in Switzerland County several times and always loved coming to this area.
He then introduced those traveling with him on the caravan: Reds Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini; Reds President of Baseball Operations Walk Jocketty; and players Corky Miller, Ryan LaMarre and Jay Bruce.
Everyone got a rousing reception, but it was Jay Bruce who got the biggest cheers. Thom Brennaman told the audience that only one player in baseball history had hit 20 home runs in his rookie season, and then exceeded that number and rose his homerun total each of the next two seasons.
And that player is Jay Bruce.
There was time for questions from the audience, and the subject matter ranged from the health of Joey Votto to the conversion of Aroldis Chapman to a starting pitcher; and the announcement that Cincinnati will host the All Star game at Great American Ballpark in 2015.
Following the questions, everyone had the opportunity to get autographs and shake hands with the guests in attendance, and snap a few photos, as well.
Reds mascot “Mr. Redlegs” also made an appearance during the autograph portion of the event, mixing through the Hoosier Theater crowd and stopping for photos.