Chicago Cubs: Things to watch for in spring training

Will Kris Bryant play like an MVP again?

Just two years removed from an MVP season, most of the hype surrounding Kris Bryant has died down.

Prolonged shoulder issues in 2018 limited Bryant to 102 games and caused his production at the plate to plummet. One flukey season was enough to make Cubs fans forget just how good Bryant is.

Before he got hurt in 2018, Bryant was slashing an incredible .305/.427/.583, all of which would have been the highest marks of his career. Through May 19th – the date of Bryant’s initial shoulder injury – he led the National League in wRC+ at 169. That means Bryant created runs at a rate 69 percent above league average.

As you can see, contrary to popular belief, Bryant didn’t stagnate or decline in 2018. He was actually playing the best baseball of his career until a nagging shoulder injury halted his incredible season.

Eventually, Bryant did get back on the field, but he was never his typical self at the plate. After the injury, Bryant posted just a 96 wRC+, meaning he produced runs at a rate 4 percent below league average.

The biggest difference in Bryant’s production pre- and post-injury were his power numbers. Before getting hurt, Bryant was slugging a career-high .583 last season. After the injury, that number fell over 200 points to .382.

While fans have been frustrated with the Cubs’ stagnant offseason, Bryant has been quietly rehabbing his shoulder. The 2016 NL MVP says he’s healthy and ready to go in 2019:

"I feel like the offseason was the time to ease into it, which I did. This is the time to go. There is no easing into it. I’m ready to go, full-steam ahead. It’s not like I’m going to be swinging for the fences. But any time I take the baseball field, whether it’s a spring training game or national game, I’m looking to do damage. And that’s kind of my mindset this year."

Adding a healthy Bryant back to the Cubs lineup is a complete game changer. Remember, he was the best hitter in the National League before hurting his shoulder during a headfirst slide on May 19th.

Fans don’t need to be concerned with the batting numbers that Bryant produces during spring training, but they should be looking at these things:

• Early videos out of camp show Bryant back to his old swing. Is he swinging like he used to during games? Is he finishing his swing with one hand on the bat instead of two?
• Is he showing some pop at the plate and driving the driving the ball in the air?
• Does he look pain-free while swinging?

If Bryant can get back to his early 2018 form, the Cubs just added the best hitter in the league back to a lineup that desperately needed it late last year.