WATCH: Kris Bryant hits first home run in third game for Iowa Cubs
Bryant, who hit nine homers in spring training, took a changeup over the fence in his third game for Class AAA Iowa.
By
Dave Brown
•
1 min read
After hitting nine home runs with a 1.652 on-base plus slugging percentage for the Chicago Cubs during spring training, Kris Bryant started his season at Class AAA quietly. After going two entire games without going deep, Bryant unloaded for a two-run homer Saturday against right-hander Boone Whiting of Memphis, who tried to sneak a 1-0 changeup past him. Earlier in the game, Bryant hit a single, double and sacrifice fly, and also walked on four pitches.
Watch:
Bryant's double came with an extreme pull shift on, with Bryant hustling to second base to pick up the extra base.
On the young season, Bryant is batting .333/.357/.667 with three strikeouts in 14 plate appearances. He also has yet to make an error in eight total chances at third base.
Via MLB.com:
The first two nights, I didn't get much to hit and I was kind of going out of my comfort zone," Bryant said. "Tonight I told myself to be a little more patient, wait 'em out and I got some more pitches to hit. It was a good night."
The Cubs have said Bryant was sent to the minors to hone his game, particularly on defense at third and left field, though many speculate he didn't break camp with the major leaguers in order to squeeze another full season out of him before free agency kicks in. The Cubs will have to keep him down on the farm for about another week to pass that threshold.
