Kris Bryant better than advertised for Chicago Cubs

Kris Bryant was a legend in making in the minors. Once he was called up and he progressed through the season, he is showing that he was worth the hype (and wait). He is better than advertised for the Cubs and their fans.

Chicago Cubs /

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are on the verge of doing something not many people thought they could do — they are about to clinch a playoff berth. With the magic number down to 1, it’s a matter of what day this weekend they will clinch.

The play of the young Cubs is a big reason why they are where they are. Cubs rookies combined to hit 66 home runs, most ever by a Cubs rookie class, and fourth-most by a rookie class in MLB history.

The rookie leading the way is Kris Bryant.

Ever since the Cubs drafted him second overall in the 2013 draft, Bryant had the tab of legend-in-the-making. The way he was hitting in the minors added fuel to the fire. His minor league career hitting stats are .327/.426/.667, 55 home runs and 152 RBI, with 147 runs scored.

There was some controversy at the start of the season when the Cubs sent Bryant down to Iowa, but now it looks like a great move.

Bryant came up early in the season, and since then he’s actually been better than advertised. In his rookie season, he is hitting .276/.369/.501, with 26 home runs and 98 RBI. He has 145 hits, 85 runs, 71 walks, 30 doubles and 13 stolen bases. His home runs and RBI are franchise rookie records.

Bryant has just about wrapped up the National League Rookie of the Year. After outlasting other rookies like Joc Pederson and Matt Duffy, he is showing that he is the class of all the rookies in 2015.

What is amazing is that Bryan can be better.

He leads the league in strikeouts. Yes, swinging for the fences causes hitters to strike out more, but looking at his strikeouts, I see a lot of them happen because of his lack of familiarity with the pitchers. When he has more at-bats in the league, he will cut down on those strikeouts.

The maturity beyond his age is something that has been the most impressive aspect for Bryant. “The scrutiny that KB was under in spring training was something I’ve never seen,” said catcher David Ross, who’s in his 14th season in the big leagues. “The way he’s handled it — and had a phenomenal year — has been really impressive.”

Bryant’s agent, Scott Boras, is amazed with how nothing deters him from his routine.

“He does not wear it,” Boras said. “Bryant has the absolute professional approach where ‘I’m going to show up, and I’ve got a routine to deliver. And I’m not going to worry about what happens.’

“He has that belief, that structure, that confidence. And it’s rewarded.”

Bryant does not let the ups get him too confident or the lows too down. He does not take himself too seriously. Recently, he recorded a video in which he worked as a driver for Lyft. He’s also done commercials with goats.

Bryant is also unselfish. He is a third baseman by trade, but he’s had no problem moving around this season. In addition to third base, he has played every spot in the outfield this season.

Bryant is showing that he intends to hit big home runs for years to come. In his first year, he will get a chance to hit some really big ones in October.

Next: Chicago Cubs Planning Big Celebration When They Clinch

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