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Cubs prospect Kris Bryant strikes out swinging in first at-bat

By Alexandra Huber

Mar 10, 2015; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant against the Cleveland Indians during a spring training baseball game at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2015; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant against the Cleveland Indians during a spring training baseball game at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Highly-anticipated Chicago Cubs prospect Kris Bryant strikes out swinging in his first major league plate appearance, Cubs Twitter reacts.

Well, that was anti-climactic.

After all of the anticipation and build-up surrounding Cubs prospect Kris Bryant, he struck out in his first Major League at bat. The strike out ended the inning for the Cubs.

Bryant took the plate in the bottom of the first to raucous applause at Wrigley Field. He faced three pitches from San Diego Padres starter James Shields – and took three swinging strikes.

Bryant, who announced his call up via Twitter on Thursday night, replaced third baseman Mike Olt, who suffered a hairline fracture in his wrist in Colorado last weekend and will go on the disabled list.

The Cubs, who usually start big-name prospects on the road, chose Friday’s day game against the Padres at Wrigley Field for Bryant’s coming-out party. The Cubs later tweeted that 23 year-old Bryant would start and bat cleanup in Friday’s day contest.

The excitement surrounding Bryant’s first at bat was palpable. Media and Cubs fans on Twitter awaited the moment when Bryant finally took the plate for the Northsiders.

And then, Bryant struck out.

Some fans utilized sarcasm to get them through it.

Other fans managed to remain positive.

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Bryant was the focus of a heated debate at the start of the regular season after his impressive production in spring training, in which he led both the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues with nine home runs.

Instead of starting the regular season in the majors, Bryant was relegated to the minors for the first couple weeks of the season, thanks to a controversial rule in the collective bargaining agreement. By waiting until Friday to bring Bryant up, the Cubs retained a full extra year of control at the end of Bryant’s contract, prior to becoming a free agent.

The Cubs now have control of Bryant until after the 2021 season instead of 2020. Bryant is represented by MLB super-agent and super-villain Scott Boras.

Bryant, who was the second overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft, was named the minor league player of the year in 2014 after hitting .325 with 43 home runs and 110 RBIs.

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