After whirlwind year, Cubs Bryant having fun
The Chicago Cubs are a team that will throw a party for just about any occasion.
So why not Sunday, the one-year anniversary of third baseman Kris Bryant's call-up to the major leagues?
Bryant said he has been getting texts that a party is in order. And why not?
In just a year's time, the 24-year-old Bryant has come to the major leagues, made the National League all-star team, helped the Cubs get to the NL championship series and won Rookie of the Year honors by getting every first-place vote.
He set a Cubs rookie record by hitting 26 home runs, and he missed the 100-RBI mark by just 1.
That's quite a whirlwind 12 months.
“Sometimes it feels longer, Sometimes it feels a lot shorter,” he said. “I guess it feels shorter when you're having fun, time's flying by. It's been a good year for me. I've learned a lot along the way. I'm far from where I want to be.
“It's been good. I can't really say much about it. It's been a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to new things. Maybe we'll have a party.”
Bryant came up with so much hype last year that an Adidas billboard preceded his April 17 arrival to Wrigley Field.
Even though it's impossible for Bryant to ignore the hype — his likeness is on billboards for clothing retailer Express this year — it didn't seem to affect him either this year or last.
“They're just all words,” he said. “You've got to do it on the field. I've always been about action and doing it on the field, not worried about what people are saying about me or any of that because I know deep down I want to do better than what everybody is saying about me.
“I wouldn't be here if I didn't have that type of mentality and desire to just continue to learn and be better and become an all-around baseball player. I guess that's what pushes me and will continue to push me.”
That attitude hasn't gone unnoticed by Cubs manager Joe Maddon.
“One year removed from showing up, and the mature game that he plays,” Maddon said. “How about in left field? Did he look like really normal and good out there? That's what I'm talking about. Just change gloves and go play because he loves playing in the outfield.
“He's just different. There's no pretentiousness about him whatsoever. He's a baseball player. He loves to play. He comes ready. He doesn't whine. He doesn't complain. And it's just one year.”
Rather than complain, Bryant says he relishes the challenges of playing different positions.
“ There are different mentalities to playing outfield than playing infield,” he said. “You've got to kind of speed up a little bit. It doesn't bother me too much. I know Joe knows that. I'm up for anything. I kind of enjoy playing all over the place. It reminds me of playing Wiffle ball in the street, all over the place. So it's a lot of fun for me.”
Even though Bryant's face is on billboards around town, it would be inaccurate to call him the “face” of the franchise because there are so many faces. First baseman Anthony Rizzo just rolled out a new breakfast cereal, and ace pitcher Jake Arrieta is doing underwear ads.
Bryant takes it all in stride.
“I haven't seen many,” he said of the billboards with his likeness. “I guess it's one of those things that goes along with this. I never in a million years would have thought that. I'm having a lot of fun with it. I know these guys (teammates are having fun). They don't give me a hard time. They just show me the selfies with me in it. It's all in good fun.”