Kris Bryant's Here...Home Runs or Not

     Before making it to the Major Leagues with the Chicago Cubs on April 17, Kris Bryant was perhaps the most highly anticipated prospects in the modern era of Major League Baseball. The arrival of Bryant in Chicago was not only great news for Cubs fans, but for baseball fans everywhere. The buzz around Bryant has electrified the league since he arrived almost a month ago.

              

    Kris Bryant’s big selling point was his power swing. He led all of college baseball in home runs during his final year at the University of San Diego, had 43 home runs in the minor leagues last season, and had more home runs than anyone else during spring training. To fans, Kris Bryant’s home run swing is his bread and butter. However, coming into Saturday, Kris Bryant has played 21 games so far in his career, and has yet to hit his first career Major League home run.

            

Kris Bryant made his Major League debut on April 17

    While all eyes are on Bryant waiting for that first big swing, that fans undoubtedly didn’t expect to take this long, they cannot be disappointed with his performance in the meantime. In his first 21 games, Bryant has 20 hits and is hitting .278. While his has yet to muscle the ball over the fence, Bryant does have six extra base hits and has been a major contributor to the Cubs offense with 14 RBIs. Kris Bryant is still seen as a power hitter, for good reason, and with the power comes the strikeout. Bryant has struck out 29 times in 21 games, but he is not a reckless swinger. He has a good eye at the plate, which has improved since his entrance into the big leagues. He has earned 17 walks, and in multiple instances, showed off his good eye by coaxing a walk after beginning in an 0-2 count.

The Chicago Cubs are 15-13 this season

           

     Kris Bryant has lived up to the hype that surrounded him, just not in the way we expected. But the power will come, it always does. I have no doubt that when Bryant finds the home run swing for the first time, more home runs will follow in bunches. Whether it’s the first win, the first hit, or in Bryant’s case, the first home run, you know what they say: The first one’s always the hardest to get.