As expected, once Kris Bryant spent his 12 days in the minor leagues to ensure the Chicago Cubs get to keep him through 2021 instead of 2020, the top prospect in the game was called up, and he made his major league debut Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, facing James Shields and the San Diego Padres.
While there was certainly a minority out there complaining about the hype for a kid before he had ever done anything in the majors, most baseball fans were excited -- or at least curious -- to see how Bryant fared. Let's check in on some Twitter reaction from the day.
Pregame festivities
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!
— Kris Bryant (@KrisBryant_23) April 17, 2015Me and you, we're gonna do wonderful things together. pic.twitter.com/ZSwtDNlnfE
— MLB (@MLB) April 17, 2015One of many reasons why #Cubs fans love this guy. pic.twitter.com/dKOhtZH7tR
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2015Most recent players to start at cleanup in MLB debut game:
2015 KRIS BRYANT
2014 Jose Abreu
2009 Barbaro Canizares
2005 Brad Eldred
— High Heat Stats MLB (@HighHeatStats) April 17, 2015Manager Joe Maddon penciled Bryant in at the cleanup spot, the first Cubs player to hit cleanup in his debut in 73 years. Curious move, or a confident one? Maybe a little of both, but if that's where Maddon thinks Bryant should hit, Bryant also doesn't seem like the kind of kid who's going to put extra pressure on himself just because he's batting cleanup. But there's something to be said for easing him into the lineup and letting him bat fifth for a few games, and then moving him up.
First at-bat, runner on first, two outs, game tied 0-0
Cubs fans.
Cell Phone cameras.
Kris Bryant's MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/SsycVo7IPD
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) April 17, 2015James Shields' approach to Kris Bryant:
89 MPH Slider (foul tip)
86 MPH Changeup (swing and miss)
86 MPH Changeup (swing and miss)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 17, 2015— Grant Brisbee (@mccoveychron) April 17, 2015
Cubs fans gave the rookie a nice standing ovation. The veteran Shields wasn't about to give into the moment, however, and didn't give Bryant any fastballs to hit, understanding there's a good chance Bryant would be all geared up to crush a heater. Three good pitches, all at the knees or below. Both changeups dropped out of the zone, just good execution on Shields' part. Bryant tore up the minors but he wasn't seeing many changeups like that.
Second at-bat, leading off the fourth, game tied 2-2
Cubs 3B Kris Bryant strikes out swinging for the 2nd time against the Padres. pic.twitter.com/VGVUk91VQF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 17, 2015Confidential to KB in Chicago: It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.
— King Kaufman (@king_kaufman) April 17, 2015Why the Cubs were wrong to rush Kris Bryant to the big leagues. My column: http://hottake
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) April 17, 2015Bryant works the count full, taking a 2-2 fastball off the plate, showing the good plate discipline that allowed him to walk a lot in the minors. The camera pans to Bryant's dad in the stands as Kris steps in for the 3-2 pitch. But that fastball was a perfect setup by Shields, because the 3-2 pitch is another changeup that dives out the zone and Bryant swings over the top of it. Welcome to the big leagues, kid.
Third at-bat, fifth inning, runners at second and third, one out, Cubs up 4-2
Kris Bryant is now 0-for-3 with 3 K against James Shields
Bryant has swung at 12 of 17 pitches on the day
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 17, 2015hmm. I'll check back tomorrow pic.twitter.com/Su50gz5G1R
— Matt Sussman (@suss2hyphens) April 17, 2015Zero shame in striking out against James Shields three times, no matter how many plate appearances you have behind you.
— Marc Normandin (@Marc_Normandin) April 17, 2015The Cubs have taken the lead on four straight hits from Jonathan Herrera, Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler and Anthony Rizzo. Bryant has a chance to potentially put the game away against a laboring Shields. The Cubs have a meeting at the mound, perhaps discussing whether to intentionally walk Bryant to set up a double play (second Jedd Gyorko motioned to the dugout with four fingers raised), but instead decide to go after him.
The first pitch is a 92 mph fastball that rides in and off the plate, and Bryant swings and misses. A good pitch from Shields, because even if Bryant makes contact, he's probably going to hit just a foul ball. The next pitch is another fastball, 91 mph, that rides inside. The 1-1 pitch is an 85 mph slider or cutter, maybe a bit of a hanger off the plate, and Bryant fouls it off. Probably the one pitch he saw all day that was a mistake from Shields. The 1-2 pitch is an 89 mph cutter, low and off the plate, perfect location from Shields, and Bryant makes an awkward, half-swing-and-miss. He was either looking for a different pitch or a different location.
The third strikeout was definitely disappointing, but this is what to expect from Bryant: He's going to strike out a lot and there likely will be an adjustment period. As Cubs president Theo Epstein pointed out, Bryant went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts in his professional debut for Boise in 2013. Considering he was playing for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday night, made his way to Chicago, had to do deal with a pregame media session, signed autographs and was no doubt a little anxious and amped up, it can't be a surprise that Shields got him three times, making some nasty pitches.
Note: Granted, it was a different era, but Ted Williams had just three three-strikeout games in his career. And, yes, comparing anybody to Ted Williams is dumb.
Fourth at-bat, bottom of seventh, runners first and second, two outs, Padres up 5-4
Intentional walk to get to Bryant. Padres testing the kid's mettle today, that's for sure. #Cubs
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) April 17, 2015Come on Bryant. Hit a homer.
— Anastasia Gotsulias (@StaceGots) April 17, 2015Just hit it to the outfield, Kris. The Padres will take care of the rest.
— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) April 17, 2015The Padres had taken a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh, when Wil Myers hit a three-run homer off Brian Schlitter, who had appeared to strike out Myers on the previous pitch. Maddon had words with umpire Sam Holbrook and got ejected. Then, in the bottom of the inning, Fowler hit a ball that Myers couldn't get to and bounced into the ivy. Although it was still visible, the Padres stopped playing as Fowler rounded the bases. The umpire called it a ground-rule double. With two outs, Dale Thayer intentionally walked Rizzo to get to Bryant. A chance to be the hero.
Bryant took a fastball up for ball one and then took a strike on the outside corner. The third pitch is another fastball at the knees and Bryant hits a routine grounder to the third to end the inning. The Padres hold on for a 5-4 victory.
Bryant did make a couple of nice plays in the field, including a diving catch, starting one double play on a grounder, making another catch on a liner that turned into a double play and throwing out Will Middlebrooks from deep behind the bag. Nothing necessarily extraordinary, but good major league defense.
The haters will have a field day, but the good about baseball: There's always tomorrow.
I had a hat trick the other day too Kris Bryant, no worries.
— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) April 17, 2015