The Kris Bryant contract is heading down a heartbreaking path for an organization already struggling to see any glimmer of light at the end of its unlit tunnel.
Sadly, Kris Bryant has once again found his way to the injured list.
It's hard not to wonder if Kris will ever return to his former self. After all, he did win a Rookie of the Year award in 2015 when he dazzled us with barehanded plays at the hot corner. One year later, he followed that up with an MVP award, cementing his status as an up-and-coming star. His Chicago Cubs also won the World Series in the same season. Not bad, Kris. Not bad.
So, how could things turn so sour down the line? Sure, he earned himself a nice wad of cash in 2022 with his shocking seven-year, $182MM contract to the *checks notes* Colorado Rockies, in a deal I still can't believe happened.
Image by From The Dish
This was always an odd deal. But now, in year three out of seven, this is a disaster.
In last weekend's ballgame, Kris crashed into the right field wall at Rogers Centre after making a great catch. This resulted in a lower back strain and his 10th stint on the injured list as a member of the Rockies. Although this injury is seemingly minor, Kris is spiraling. What will Kris Bryant's next four seasons look like?
An oft-injured 32-year-old Bryant, with a laundry list of bumps and bruises, has an uphill battle shedding this unwanted narrative. Health concerns are even more prevalent with the Rockies because of the high-altitude environment in which players must thrive.
It's been a challenge for the Vegas native, to say the least. He's played in only 135 games in three seasons with the Rockies. For perspective, that's 135 out of a possible 343 (only 39%!). In those 135 games, he's only slugging .391 with 16 HR and 24 doubles, with the best ballpark for extra-base hits as his home.
Yet, Kris hasn't found a home as a Rockie. As a natural third baseman, he continuously switches positions, whether it's a corner outfield spot or across the diamond at first. Versatility isn't the deciding factor in this scenario; it's more of a mix-and-matching to see what sticks. However, with this philosophy, he's serving as a logjam to younger players who could use big-league seasoning.
The uncertainty surrounding Bryant puts Colorado in a bind in an era when they can't afford swings and misses. This is especially true when you factor in that they overpaid him with their questionable $182MM pact with Bryant—the largest in franchise history.
The Rockies sit at 4-15 at the end of play on Apr 17 after losing 103 games last season, the most in franchise history. The city of Denver deserves better.
Maybe Kris could string together some small victories to get going again. He may never return to all-star status, but simply contributing consistently can soften the blow of this megadeal gone wrong. Still, the road to contention only gets bumpier from here.
To end on a positive note, this is being written on the ninth anniversary of Kris Bryant's MLB debut, coincidentally. Enjoy this video of a young second-overall pick hoping to be a key contributor to a Cubs team that hadn't won a title in 108 years. Little did he know he would throw the final out of the 2016 World Series.
That one hits me right in the feels.
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