Is versatility heaven for Kris Bryant? No, it’s Iowa

SHARE Is versatility heaven for Kris Bryant? No, it’s Iowa

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Get used to seeing Kris Bryant in left field. Well for another few days at the big-league level anyway.

The slugging third-base prospect made his second start of the spring in left on Sunday – exactly one week before the season opener – and manager Joe Maddon said Bryant’s not done getting work out there.

Maddon not only expects to have Bryant in left again in the final week of spring games, but assuming Bryant opens the season at AAA Iowa, Maddon wants to see him keep getting time there at both positions.

“I like when guys work in different areas,” the manager said. “The problem is what happens is you never know where the need’s going to arise. All of a sudden you could have the need here and, `Well, he hasn’t played there,’ so nobody’s comfortable.

“I’m comfortable putting guys anywhere. I like to encourage that. And I honestly believe it makes a younger hitter a better hitter, because if he’s moving around a lot and has to work at so many different defensive positions he doesn’t worry so much about just his hitting. He probably comes out to the ballpark that day more concerned about getting his defensive thing down and then he just goes and hits.”

Bryant, who was hitting .459 with a major-league leading nine homers and 1.782 OPS entering play Sunday, played center field part of his last year in college and said he embraces the idea of preparing for more than one position in the majors.

He’s expected to open the season in the minors (with the Cubs pushing his free agency back to the end of 2021 if he stays down at least 12 days).

The Latest
The man was found unresponsive in an alley in the 10700 block of South Lowe Avenue, police said.
The man suffered head trauma and was pronounced dead at University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.
Another federal judge in Chicago who also has dismissed gun cases based on the same Supreme Court ruling says the high court’s decision in what’s known as the Bruen case will “inevitably lead to more gun violence, more dead citizens and more devastated communities.”
Women make up just 10% of those in careers such as green infrastructure and clean and renewable energy, a leader from Openlands writes. Apprenticeships and other training opportunities are some of the ways to get more women into this growing job sector.
Chatterbox doesn’t seem aware that it’s courteous to ask questions, seek others’ opinions.