I’m sure every baseball fan has heard and even weighed in on their thoughts about Kris Bryant, the way the Cubs held him down and what the future holds. I don’t want to dig into the controversial stuff right now, but I do want to tell you the story of my first introduction to the player who has had as much excitement surrounding him as anyone in the last few years including Strasburg and Harper.
A couple years ago I got the chance to go to the Arizona Fall League for the first time. That all by itself was an amazing experience but one game from that fall league still to this day stands out to me and for one single reason, Kris Bryant.
I knew Bryant was good and I was excited to get his autograph before the game but honestly didn’t put him down as my best autograph from his team until after the game.
In Bryant’s first at bat he hit an absolute lazer to left center field and hit the top of the fence then went over for what should have been a home run. For some crazy reason it was ruled a ground rule double.
The fans weren’t happy with the call but it didn’t seem to be that important.
Then his next at bat came and he hit a home run to left field that not only cleared the home run fence but also cleared the back fence of the stadium. It was just a HUGE shot.
Then his third at bat came and once again Bryant put the ball over the fence. His fourth at bat the fans were not only hoping for a bomb they were expecting it and on demand he deposited another ball onto the lawn for his 3rd home run of the day.
Bryant went 4-4 that day with 3 home runs (one to opposite field, one out of the stadium and one to deep left center) and a ground rule double that should have actually been a home run.
I knew Bryant was good, but it was that day that I realized that this players was going to be more than just someone to watch. He was going to be someone I was going to talk about to my kids and grand kids.
I don’t know if he will be as good as everyone thinks but I can honestly say that I believe he is going to be someone who many fans will look back on the history of baseball and talk with high regard for the talent that started its major league career on Friday.