Cubs top prospect Kris Bryant batting cleanup for MLB debut
Kris Bryant is up - and likely here to stay.
The Chicago Cubs super prospect was promoted from Triple-A Iowa on Friday and is batting fourth in the lineup for his major-league debut versus James Shields and the San Diego Padres.
"Cleanup is pretty cool," Bryant said in a pregame press conference. "It will be fun - first game against a really good pitcher."
| Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dexter Fowler | CF |
| 2 | Jorge Soler | RF |
| 3 | Anthony Rizzo | 1B |
| 4 | Kris Bryant | 3B |
| 5 | Chris Coghlan | LF |
| 6 | Starlin Castro | SS |
| 7 | Welington Castillo | C |
| 8 | Jason Hammel | P |
| 9 | Jonathan Herrera | 2B |
Entering spring training with enormous hype and buzz that only built up until his promotion, Bryant is the eighth player since Pete Incaviglia in 1986 to hit cleanup in his first big-league game. The last time a Cubs player hit fourth in his first game was Heinz Becker in 1943, according to ESPN Stats and Info.
FIRST LOOK: Working on @KrisBryant_23's @Cubs jersey at @MajesticOnField. pic.twitter.com/mCg6wtLmnM
— MLB (@MLB) April 17, 2015
Bryant, who'll wear No. 17 for his debut, capped his final minor-league tuneup Thursday by blasting his third homer in seven games, leaving with a 1.042 OPS. He swatted a major league-best nine homers during spring training after leading all minor league hitters with 43 bombs during the 2014 season.
"Today I got to tell my family that my dream is coming true," Bryant tweeted Thursday night. "Can't really put into words what that feels like. So excited for this journey!"
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Bryant's promotion is a great day for baseball.
"He's a really good player," he said. "He's ready to go. ... I think this guy can stay at third base for a while."
The 23-year-old, ranked as the sport's No. 1 prospect by Baseball America, had his debut pushed back in order for the Cubs to gain an extra year of team control.
Bryant can now only accumulate 171 days of major-league service time this season, ensuring he falls a day short of a full year, as per the collective bargaining agreement, and pushing back his free-agent eligibility until after the 2021 campaign.
Hi, @KrisBryant_23. pic.twitter.com/5W1uTr6sVO
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2015
A first-round pick of Chicago's in 2013, Bryant should greatly help the Cubs, who've received weak contribution from their third basemen through eight games. The Cubs' third basemen have the lowest batting average in the majors (.148) and second lowest OPS (.493).
To make room for Bryant on the active roster, Mike Olt was placed on the disabled list with a hairline fracture in his right wrist.
The Cubs enter Friday tied for first place in the Central Division with a 5-3 record.