Cubs mega-prospect Kris Bryant hasn’t yet played an inning in the majors but he’s already endearing himself to fans everywhere.
Bryant performed a random act of kindness this week by sending a signed, game-used bat to a fellow Las Vegas native.
Here’s what happened:
Mike Kennedy, a sports fan and memorabilia collector, found one of Bryant’s game-used bats for sale on eBay last week. The bat was listed for $850, which is an amazing valuation considering Bryant hasn’t been called up to the Cubs yet.
Before shelling out the dough, Kennedy wanted to verify the bat was genuine. So he decided to go to the source and sent a tweet to Bryant.
@KrisBryant_23 is there anyway I could DM u a link and you could tell me if this looks legit to you? Want to buy it if it was yours. Thanks
— Mike in Vegas (@mk9577) October 31, 2014
Before opening the link, Bryant was ready to make this fan’s day.
@mk9577 you don't need to buy it! What do you want? I'll send it to you!
— Kris Bryant (@KrisBryant_23) October 31, 2014
Kennedy responded, seemingly in disbelief.
@KrisBryant_23 it was a gu bat ha ha there expensive I wouldn't expect you to do that but I appreciate it. And want one for my pc
— Mike in Vegas (@mk9577) October 31, 2014
And Bryant made good on his offer.
@mk9577 850 bucks?! That's ridiculous! I'll send one to you. DM me your address!
— Kris Bryant (@KrisBryant_23) October 31, 2014
Bryant shipped the bat on Monday and Kennedy received it Thursday.
“I’m just a big fan,” Kennedy said in a phone interview. “And for me I collect cards and then started collecting game-used memorabilia. When you own a bat that was used in a game it’s a piece of history to me. So that’s why I like them. Even 30 years from now here’s this bat that was used by a player. So I just collect. I wasn’t trying to get anything from him. I just wanted to know if it was legit before I bought it. … I was blown away.”
Bryant told Kennedy that the bat he found listed on eBay was one the prospect had given to a kid during a game this year. Bryant told him he was disappointed to see it for sale.
Kennedy, who works as a lighting technician for concerts, offered Bryant some concert tickets in return, but Bryant wouldn’t accept.
“I don’t need anything man,” Bryant wrote to Kennedy in a direct message. “You’re a big fan and I appreciate that. Good to have people like you out there.”
It’s also good to know there are athletes like Bryant out there.
