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MLB

Bryant Claims Player of the Year Awards

Cubs' prospect wins top honors from Baseball America and USA Today
By Randy Wehofer
September 10, 2014

Des Moines, IA - After an outstanding season on the field, Kris Bryant's terrific run through 2014 is continuing even into the off-season. After leading all of Minor League Baseball with 43 home runs to win the Joe Bauman Award, Bryant has been named the Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today and Baseball America. The latter award was announced today. USA Today announced their selection on September 3.

Bryant combined to hit .325 (160-for-492) with 110 RBI in 138 games combined between double-A Tennessee and the Iowa Cubs this year. In addition to home run, he led all full-season minor leaguers in extra-base hits (78), total bases (325), slugging percentage (.661), and OPS (1.098). He was second in runs (118) and on-base percentage (.438), ranked tied for second in games played, and tied for eighth in walks (86).

Bryant hit .355 (88-for-248) with 22 home runs and 58 RBI in 68 games with Tennessee to begin the season. He was selected to the mid-season Southern League All-Star team and won the Home Run Derby at the Southern League All-Star Game in Chattanooga. Bryant was leading the SL in 10 offensive categories when he was promoted to Iowa on June 19. He hit .295 (72-for-244) with 21 home runs and 52 RBI in 70 games with the I-Cubs. He led the team with 43 walks and finished second in homers and RBI. Javy Baez hit 23 homers and recorded 80 RBI in 104 games before his call-up to Chicago. Among his season highlights, Bryant becomes the first player in Iowa history to hit a home run for each of his first five triple-A hits, hit his first career grand slam on June 30 against Omaha, and hit a two-run, game-ending home run in the 12th inning that gave the Cubs a 6-5 win over Las Vegas on August 14. That capped a night that began with fans receiving his #19 jersey t-shirt as a giveaway.

Bryant participated in the All-Star Futures Game at Target Field in Minneapolis on July 13. He was named the Best Power Prospect and Most Exciting Player in the SL and the Best Defensive Third Baseman in the Pacific Coast League in a survey of league managers for the annual Baseball America "Best Tools" issue in August.

Bryant is the first Cubs' player to win the Baseball America award and is just the second player to win the publications College Player of the Year and Minor League Player of the Year in consecutive seasons. Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals was the first in 2005-06. Mike Harkey was the first-ever winner of the USA Today Award in 1988. He began that season at double-A Pittsfield and made 12 starts with Iowa that season before making his big league debut with Chicago.