Kris Bryant’s father reflects on his son’s early success

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, reigning World Series Champion and National League MVP, had a busy “off-day.” Bryant took batting practice in downtown Chicago as part of a promotional event with Red Bull and launched baseballs into the Chicago River in 50 degree weather. Afterwards Bryant joked that “this was his first batting practice in Chicago this year” after last night’s session was rained out.

Bryant was joined on the plaza deck by his father, Mike Bryant. Unlike the All-Star Game’s home run hitting contest, the elder Bryant did not throw batting practice to his son but he did talk to FanSided about what it was like to be at the Cubs home opener and the banner raising ceremony.

“There are always tears,” Bryant said.

Bryant is getting more and more attention these days, as you would imagine is customary for a young and handsome player with a MVP award to his name.

“He is getting rockstar treatment,” his father noted. “I’ve always said every baseball player wants to be a rockstar and every rockstar wants to be a baseball player. Just look at Eddie Vedder!”

The younger Bryant has remained humble despite the amount of success he’s had already in his two years in the big leagues. Bryant has been rapidly adding to his trophy case, winning Rookie of the Year, MVP and helping the Cubs to their first World Series championship since 1908. Father Mike Bryant gives credit to Kris’s mother for keeping their son grounded,

“Thank his Mom for that,” the elder Bryant said. “She is the rock. Kris exemplifies everything that is good about her. And from the baseball side, everything that I have learned.”

Last year during the World Series, Mike Bryant was not nervous when the Cubs lost their 6-3 lead after Rajai Davis hit a home run. The elder Bryant was especially calm when Bryant picked up the last ground ball and threw it across the diamond to Anthony Rizzo in the final play of the

“I stood up and said to everyone, that’s all they got guys, and that just tied the score,” Bryant said. “They are not ahead. It’s our turn to score now.”

That type of optimism seems to have rubbed off on the younger Bryant who does not get down on himself when things are not going his way, like a slow start this year, 0-13 with six strikeouts. That quickly ended with Bryant getting seven hits in his next 13 at-bats. The Cubs are off to a 5-2 star with their star MVP player enjoying life, taking batting practice and launching balls into the Chicago River.