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There is something that we all know and that is that Kris Bryant has talent, plenty of it. In his short Spring Training stint with the Chicago Cubs, Bryant has batted for a .406 average, 9 home runs and 15 RBIs in 32 at bats. Out of the 13 hits he has this spring, 11 have been for extra bases.
Let’s not forget that Bryant also hit 43 home runs in the minor leagues last season. Everything points to him being the Cubs’ starting third baseman on Opening Day, but Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein has hinted that Kris Bryant might start the season in the minors.
Epstein’s records show that he has never had a rookie debut on Opening Day for any of his teams and he might continue that trend.
First off, the Cubs made a huge mistake by not calling Kris Bryant up last season in September. Bryant would have gotten some experience at the big league level and would have gotten rid of the debut jitters. Now, the Cubs might be making another huge mistake if they do not have Bryant on their Opening Day roster.
If Kris Bryant is showing you that he is capable to be a force offensively and is carrying a hot bat, why not give him a shot right out of the gates? Sending him to the minors again can negatively affect Bryant’s motivation, while naming him your Opening Day third baseman can benefit his motivation and give him a reward for his great work during the spring.
The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 and have been pretty irrelevant in recent years, why not break Theo Epstein’s record and while they are at it try to break the World Series drought? It would make it that much more memorable if the Cubs can get it together and have a successful season.
Kris Bryant has to be on the Cubs Opening Day roster for the good of the team, the fans, and Major League Baseball. Everyone is anxiously waiting to see what he can do on the big stage. The Cubs should not be worried about whether Bryant is ready or not. If he has the talent, he will succeed in the MLB as soon as he plays. No need to hold him back.
