Kris Bryant: The road to Wrigley Field
Kris Bryant started the 2015 season with Triple-A Iowa but isn't expected to be there long. We follow along as he and the I-Cubs open their Minor League slate.
April 16: Reports: Cubs promoting Bryant on Friday
The subject of endless speculation and discussion around the game, Kris Bryant's stay in Triple-A Iowa is over after seven games -- news broke Thursday night that MLB.com's No. 2 prospect had been promoted to the Major Leagues. ESPNChicago.com's Jesse Rogers was first with the news. The Cubs have yet to confirm the promotion.
Today I got to tell my family that my dream is coming true. Can't really put into words what that feels like. So excited for this journey!
- Kris Bryant (@KrisBryant_23) April 17, 2015
Bryant went 1-for-4 with a home run in his final game, clubbing a mammoth home run to left field as Iowa put together a seven-run sixth inning during a 10-7 win at New Orleans. The roundtripper gave Bryant 54 home runs in 180 Minor League games since going second overall in the 2013 Draft. He entered Thursday with a .328 average and a 1.091 OPS as a Minor Leaguer. Read More »
Congrats to my boy @KrisBryant_23 on getting the call. Your the man and deserve it bro. Go ball out #somuchbigga
- Daniel Vogelbach (@DanielVogelbach) April 17, 2015
Expect to see Bryant at Wrigley Friday. #Cubs Mike Olt saw hand specialist today and has hairline fracture in wrist. He will be out 3 weeks
- Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) April 17, 2015
April 16: 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, K | Box score »
In Game 1 of a doubleheader against New Orleans, Bryant provided a three-run jolt with his third homer of the season. Bryant pulled the long ball way out to left field, with those in attendance reporting it left the park still flying higher than the top of the foul pole.
The home run capped a seven-run sixth inning for Iowa, which came away with a 10-7 win. Bryant finished just 1-for-4 in the victory and also picked up his ninth strikeout in seven games this season. Through the end of Game 1, Bryant is hitting .321 in the Pacific Coast League this year
April 15: 0-for-3, BB, R, 2 K | Box score »
April 14: Postponed (Rain)
April 13: Bryant collects three hits
Top Cubs prospect Kris Bryant didn't give the fans in the outfield any souvenirs Monday night, but he did give them plenty of topics to discuss around the water cooler Tuesday morning.
Bryant went 3-for-5 with a stolen base and a pair of throwing errors in the Triple-A Iowa Cubs' 4-1 win over the host New Orleans Zephyrs.
The outing typified the strengths in Bryant's game in terms of his bat control and ability to hit to all parts of the field. It also highlighted the fact that his defense at third base could still use a little work, something the Cubs pointed to when justifying the decision to assign him to the Minors to get him more seasoning at the hot corner. Read More »
Kris Bryant now batting .381 with a 1.089 OPS in 21 at-bats at Triple-A Iowa. #Cubs
- Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) April 14, 2015
April 12: Bryant hits second homer
Kris Bryant's highly anticipated promotion to Chicago may likely be only a week or so away, but Addison Russell is doing all he can to remind Cubs fans the system's talent runs deeper than the slugging outfielder.
Russell went 3-for-5 with his first Triple-A homer and Bryant launched his second long ball in as many days Sunday, powering Iowa to a 7-2 triumph at Memphis.
"We have some heavy hitters in this lineup," said Russell, who called this Iowa team the best he's ever been a part of at any level in any organization. "There are a lot of guys that are consistent and really hungry and who want to perform. This lineup is awesome." Read More »
#Cubs prospect @Addison_Russell hit 2R HR in 3rd and @KrisBryant_23 just hit his 2nd in as many days in 7th for @IowaCubs
- Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) April 12, 2015
Spoke with #Cubs' Addison Russell, who said Kris Bryant is only going to get better. Said he is only human, but "nothing shy of amazing."
- Ash Marshall (@AshMarshallMLB) April 12, 2015
April 11: Bryant hits first homer of 2015
The day is likely coming soon when Kris Bryant will mash his first home run for the Cubs who call Wrigley Field home. On Saturday night, he did it for Chicago's namesake affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.
The Cubs' top prospect hammered his first homer of the season, doubled and singled on a potent offensive night as Triple-A Iowa rolled Memphis, 13-0, at AutoZone Park.
Bryant got the I-Cubs on the board with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning before singling and scoring on Rubi Silva's base hit in the third. Two innings later, he followed No. 2 Cubs prospect Addison Russell's leadoff single with a double to jump-start a four-run outburst. Iowa racked up 16 hits and went 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
"It was awesome," Bryant said. "Anytime you have guys hitting the ball like that, you feed off of each other. Everybody benefits from it. It was definitely a fun night for us tonight. We needed that after the first two games, when we didn't really hit much." Read More »
April 10: 0-for-4, 2 K | Box score »
Opening Night, April 9: 1-for-4, RBI, R, SB | Box score »
Rise to top a family affair for Bryant, Gallo
Top Chicago Cubs prospect Kris Bryant and Texas Rangers prospect Joey Gallo grew up together in Las Vegas, learning the game from their fathers while developing into two of the best power prospects in the game. Read More »
Bryant, father on developing, playing against Harper
When I was 13 and 14, I played with Bryce quite a bit. He was on a lot of different teams growing up because he was so good. Everybody wanted him to play for them. I kind of felt bad for him. Everybody wanted him, he couldn't really choose who to play for. Oh my goodness, you should've seen him when he was 12 and 13 and how hard he hit the ball. It wasn't fun if you were playing the field. Read More »
Cubs Prospect Primer: Bryant's time to shine
There's a legitimate case for Bryant to be considered the top prospect in all of baseball and for good reason. With five tools that all grade at average or above and one of the most powerful bats in the game, Bryant's star is ready to explode. His 43 homers led the Minors in 2014, and it's only the Cubs' desire to get him more experience in the field -- and likely an even more pressing concern about starting his service time clock -- that is keeping him out of Wrigley. Ranked second overall, Bryant will make his Major League debut by May and be a regular by the All-Star break.
"I think everybody knew Kris was a great hitter," Cubs director of player development Jaron Madison said about Bryant, who opened eyes this spring with his Major League-best nine homers. "But the biggest thing is his maturity and the way he has blocked out the distractions.
"I was the scouting director when we drafted him second overall. Nobody is surprised by what he's doing in Spring Training, but he's also working hard at his craft and coming into his own. He can stay at third base and play third base at the big league level or move to the outfield, but he just needs to be consistent defensively. When he comes to compete at the big league level, we want him to stay there." Read More »