The Chicago Cubs will promote highly touted third base prospect Kris Bryant on Friday, according to ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers.
Kris Bryant will join Cubs Friday, per report
The Cubs delayed promoting Bryant for just enough time to gain an extra year of team control.
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Bryant, who hit nine home runs in spring training, was a topic of widespread debate at the beginning of the regular season due to the Cubs’ decision to leave him in the minors. The MLB Players Association scoffed at the situation, which likely took place due to the Cubs’ desire to get an extra year of team control over Bryant.
Friday marks the 13th day of the season, which means Bryant can accumulate only 171 days of service time in 2015. Players need 172 days in order to be credited with a full year.
Bryant hit a three-run home run for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. He finished the day hitting .321/.367/.679 with three homers, 10 RBI and seven runs scored in seven games.
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, 2015 His teammate in Iowa, fellow top prospect Addison Russell, has yet to hear of any news regarding Bryant, according to MiLB.com's Jake Seiner. "If that's true, I just say congrats," Russell told Seiner on Thursday. "He deserves it."
The team could have used his production to start 2015 as Cubs third basemen are hitting .148/.233/.259 with one home run through the first eight games of the season.
The Cubs have yet to place Bryant on their 40-man roster. They entered Thursday with 39 rostered players, meaning they won’t have to make an additional move in order to add the 23-year-old phenom.
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