Chicago sports top ten moments of 2015

Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Kris Bryant has an incredible rookie season

Since the moment Kris Bryant was drafted, he was hit with the “can’t miss” tag. He was supposed to be a superstar.

Almost as soon as he became a professional, Bryant’s play gave fans and baseball experts more reason to believe he would be great. He shot up the Cubs’ minor league system. In his second season as a pro, many felt he was ready for the big time. The Cubs got criticized when they did not call Bryant up in September of 2014 when rosters were expanded.

It would not be the first time the Cubs received criticism when dealing with Bryant.

Bryant came into the 2015 Spring Training trying to show he deserved to make the team. He hit ten home runs and looked as comfortable as any veteran. The Cubs still decided to send him down.

While the team denied it, the main reason for the demotion was just so they can have Bryant under contract a season longer. That would happen if he played twelve games in the minors. He did so, and was called up a couple of weeks into the season.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Bryant showed he was ready for prime time. He hit .275/.369/.488, with 26 home runs and 99 RBI. He also had 31 doubles, 13 stolen bases and 77 walks. The home runs and RBI were franchise rookie records, and he made the All Star team.

Bryant helped the Cubs win 97 games and make an extended playoff run. Barring injury, he has a long, successful career in front of him. Hopefully, he can help the Cubs end their World Series drought.

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