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Imrem: Whirlwind debut for Cubs' phenom Bryant

Kris Bryant was chatting with his Triple-A Iowa manager Marty Peavy on Thursday night.

"Oh," Peavy said sort of in passing, "you're going to the big leagues tomorrow."

Thus began the whirlwind surrounding one of the most anticipated debuts in Chicago sports history.

"I didn't know it was the postseason already," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after seeing the masses on hand for his Friday morning media briefing.

A grand announcement seemed appropriate as Bryant emerged from the tunnel leading from the clubhouse to the dugout and then ran onto the Wrigley Field turf.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States!" or "Please welcome the Monarch of Monrovia!"

Sorry, this was bigger than that. This was more like a coming-out party for George Herman "Babe" Bryant or Michael Jeffrey "Air" Bryant.

Kris Bryant is expected to be baseball's next big thing, and not just because he is a 6-feet-5½ and 215 pounds.

In 2013, Bryant was the No. 2 player drafted. In 2014, he became the No. 1 prospect in all the minor leagues. In 2015, he is a promising presence in the Cubs' promising future.

On this day the rest of the Cubs were a Who's Who comprised of Anthony Who, Starlin Who, Jorge Who and Who Else.

Bryant proceeded to strike out three times - once for each hour of sleep he was on - and ground out once in the Cubs' 5-4 loss to San Diego.

Nevertheless, Bryant said, "It was a fun day. I just absorbed everything, all the smells, the sounds, playing in front of 30,000 people."

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said, "It's important to be realistic. It's important to give (young players) time to adjust and find their way."

The first adjustment came early: Bryant brushed his head on a pipe on the way into the interview room and remembered to duck beneath it on the way out.

Anyway, you want to know so much about Bryant that you watch to see where his locker is (the far end of the clubhouse), whom he talks to behind the cage during batting practice (coach Brandon Hyde), where he's hitting in the Cubs' lineup (cleanup).

You jot down the time history was made: 11 a.m. (runs onto the field), 11:05 (father is interviewed near the on-deck circle), 1:20 (first pitch), 1:22 (first fielding chance), 1:33 (first at-bat).

Cubs fans cheered when Bryant's name was announced. They gave him a standing ovation when he walked up to hit in the first inning. They applauded encouragement after he struck out on three flailing swings.

"It's great," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Cubs fans understand what's going on here. (Bryant has) done well in the minor leagues and they recognize that."

Wrigley Field really erupted when Bryant made a diving catch of a line drive to save a run in the fourth inning. Bryant, whose defense at third base is considered suspect, also started a double play and overall was flawless in the field.

So the game and day of firsts came and went, and the first impression is that Bryant seems like a nice young man baseball fans can pull for, like Jordan Spieth seems like the kind of nice young man golf fans can pull for.

"I try to be as good a person as a player," Kris Bryant said before adding, "Better as a person … that's more important."

A comment like that alone is enough to welcome the young man to the big leagues.

mimrem@dailyherald.com

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