While it wasn't his first major-league home run, Chicago Cubs rookie Kris Bryant managed to round...

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/brandon-wile/content_cards

Brandon Wile

<p>While it wasn't his first major-league home run, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/21" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/teams/21">Chicago Cubs</a> rookie <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4221" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/players/4221">Kris Bryant</a> managed to round the bases with one swing of the bat Monday. </p><p>Bryant cashed in a pair of runs in the seventh inning after driving a ball to the center-field wall with a two-out double. Heads-up base running allowed the 24-year-old to advance to third as the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/24" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/teams/24">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> attempted to relay the ball home. However, Pirates catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/376" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/players/376">Francisco Cervelli</a> misplayed the ball twice, allowing Bryant to slide safely into home plate for the Little League home run. </p><figure><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=82131183&amp;topic_id=6479266&amp;width=400&amp;height=224&amp;property=mlb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></figure><p>(Courtesy: <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/home">MLB.com</a>)</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Bryant, who was called up by the Cubs on Friday, is 6-for-14 with four RBIs in four games. </p>

MLB Baseball

Chicago Cubs

Kris Bryant

The wait is over, Cubs fans.  Kris Bryant will make his major league debut Friday against&nbsp;th...

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/darren-kritzer/content_cards

Darren Kritzer

Supervising Editor

<p>The wait is over, Cubs fans.</p><p>Kris Bryant will make his major league debut Friday against the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/27" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/teams/27">San Diego Padres</a>, playing third base and batting cleanup.</p><p>It's been an interesting few months for the 23-year-old top prospect. Even though an incredible spring - in which Bryant hit .425 with nine home runs - wasn't enough to convince the Cubs' top brass to bring the kid north, Chicago instead gained an extra year of control before he can hit free agency.</p><h3>Need to know</h3><ul><li>Bryant started spring training with a bang, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/720325" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/720325">crushing his second and third</a> home runs of the spring March 12 against the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/11" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/teams/11">Los Angeles Angels</a>.</li></ul><ul><li>With third base occupied by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1826" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/players/1826">Mike Olt</a> in spring, the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/723118" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/723118">Cubs experimented with Bryant in the outfield.</a>
</li></ul><ul><li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/724227" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/724227">Agent Scott Boras sounds off </a>about the possibility of Bryant starting the season in the minors. He says it would be harmful to the "ethics and brand" of MLB.</li></ul><ul><li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/724536" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/724536">Bryant responds</a> to Boras' statement, saying it's nice to have an agent working for you.</li></ul><ul><li>Bryant's incredible spring continues, this time <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/727393" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/727393">he hits his eighth homer</a> off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/449" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/players/449">Felix Hernandez</a>. His <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/729867" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/729867">ninth came against</a> the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/12" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/teams/12">Oakland Athletics</a>.</li></ul><ul><li>Bryant tells ESPN: <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/731952" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/731952">"Why not me"</a> when asked about making the opening day roster.</li></ul><ul><li>The question whether he will make the big league roster<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/733988" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/733988"> is answered</a> as the Cubs send Bryant down, along with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3569" href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/players/3569">Javier Baez</a>.</li></ul><ul>
<li>As many expected, the reaction to the news of Bryant being sent down is mainly negative.</li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/734233" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/734233">MLBPA reacts</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/734993" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/734993">Jon Lester reacts</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/736500" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/736500">Kris Bryant will use as motivation</a></li>
</ul><ul><li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/737278" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/737278">Adidas burns Cubs</a> with Kris Bryant 'Worth The Wait' billboard before opening day</li></ul><ul><li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/743752" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/743752">Bryant crushes</a> 1st minor-league home run of the season. Manager Joe Maddon <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/746552" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/746552">asked when he may be called up</a>.</li></ul><ul><li>After Olt goes down with injury, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/747235" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/747235">reports surface</a> that Bryant will be recalled.</li></ul><ul><li>The Cubs make <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/747401" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/747401">the news official</a>, as he is in the lineup against the Padres, batting fourth and playing third base</li></ul><ul><li>Bryant's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/747624" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/747624">first MLB at-bat </a>occurs in the second inning vs. the Padres' James Shields. He strikes out on 3 pitches. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/747635" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/747635">How did Twitter react?</a>
</li></ul><h3>Further Reading</h3><ul><li>Bryant's tantalizing power is the main focus behind his hype. David Schoenfield explains why baseball fans should be excited about Bryant's swing. [<a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12701528/chicago-cubs-prospect-kris-bryant-ready-majors">ESPN</a>]</li></ul><ul><li>Once the shine is off, Bryant's long-term career still has plenty of potential. Dave Cameron tries to temper expectations with a reasonable look at a player he thinks probably won't be a Hall of Famer. [<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/kris-bryant-and-floor-versus-ceiling/">FanGraphs</a>]</li></ul><ul><li>Remember the excitement when Bryce Harper debuted? Keep that in mind with Bryant. Will Leitch offers some perspective on what the game's top prospects of the last 15 years have actually accomplished. [<a href="http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/118823506/kris-bryant-chicago-cubs-third-baseman-prospect-bryce-harper">Sports On Earth</a>]</li></ul><h3>Top Tweets</h3><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p>It's been 73 years since <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> player made debut in cleanup spot.</p>— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/589091206996566016">April 17, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb">
<p>Today I got to tell my family that my dream is coming true. Can't really put into words what that feels like. So excited for this journey!</p>— Kris Bryant (@KrisBryant_23) <a href="https://twitter.com/KrisBryant_23/status/588903594264367104">April 17, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p>Bryant has arrived: <a href="http://t.co/r4O7A2LsZY">pic.twitter.com/r4O7A2LsZY</a></p>— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) <a href="https://twitter.com/MDGonzales/status/589096425071357953">April 17, 2015</a>
</blockquote></figure><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb">
<p>What a first game for him <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KrisBryantDay?src=hash">#KrisBryantDay</a> <a href="http://t.co/LIDDAvPfE4">pic.twitter.com/LIDDAvPfE4</a></p>— Wrigley Renovations (@WrigleyRenovate) <a href="https://twitter.com/WrigleyRenovate/status/589089145370374144">April 17, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> Maddon on Bryant: "Physically and talent wise he is ready to be a Major League baseball player"</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/589095822085750784">April 17, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>How emotional was the Kris Bryant family w news of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> call up: His aunt went to his grandparents grave at 11 pm to share the news</p>— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/589103391168720898">April 17, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

VIDEO: Cubs' Bryant hits Little League home run

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