Kris Bryant – Cubs 3B – Fantasy Baseball

Player News

• Bryant went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Pirates.

  His third-inning blast off Tyler Anderson gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead, and was Bryant’s first hit of the year. The 29-year-old is coming off an awful 2020, but with free agency looming he has plenty of incentive to rebound.

• Bryant is batting .222 with a .641 OPS and no home runs through eight Cactus League games.

  Bryant’s spring to date has been very similar to his 2020 Cactus League performance, when he posted a .641 OPS and no homers across 13 games. The 29-year-old would go on to have a down season last year, so the hope is history doesn’t repeat itself in 2021. The good news is Bryant seems to be healthy after dealing with a handful of injuries in 2020.

• Bryant said he’s had conversations with manager David Ross about taking a more aggressive approach at the plate, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

  The Cubs overall saw 4.11 pitches per plate appearance last season, which was third in the majors, and Bryant was right around that mark. The 29-year-old’s numbers were down across the board during the shortened slate as he dealt with a handful of injuries and never really got on track. Perhaps a cleaner bill of health, along with a more aggressive approach, will help Bryant rebound in 2021.

• Bryant will primarily play third base this season but will also get some time in the outfield, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

  Bryant has consistently played in the outfield during his career, including four appearances in left during the shortened 2020 season, and that trend should continue in 2021. He made a career-high 69 outfield appearances back in 2016 but probably won’t approach that number unless there’s an injury to Joc Pederson, Ian Happ or Jason Heyward, who should generally fill the outfield from left to right. Still, having eligibility at multiple positions can enhance Bryant’s fantasy appeal.

• Chicago manager David Ross said Bryant is fully healthy and has looked good taking batting practice early in spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

  Managers usually speak glowingly of their players this time of year, but it’s at least good to hear that Bryant seems healthy. A variety of injuries limited him to just 34 of the team’s 60 games last season, and the former MVP posted a career-worst .644 OPS. There’s still plenty of talent in that bat, making Bryant a definite bounceback candidate in 2021 if he stays on the field.