Kris Bryant’s first big-league hit is a broken bat RBI single
After a mostly unspectacular debut on Friday afternoon, Kris Bryant’s second major-league game has basically been the inverse, and perhaps one that’s more in line with the Cubs expectations.
The bounce back performance on Saturday afternoon included Bryant’s first major-league hit, which wasn’t necessarily the dramatic moment many people envisioned, but the Cubs will absolutely take the result.
With one out and runners on the corners in the fifth inning, Bryant delivered a broken bat single that dropped just in front of San Diego center fielder Wil Myers and scored Dexter Fowler with the tying run.
A thing of beauty it was not, but it still counts.
Besides that, it had to be good for the Cubs to see Bryant finally handle a slider away. Padres’ right-hander Tyson Ross typically has a good slider, too, but left this one up just enough for Bryant to extend his arms and get the ball into the outfield.
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As you’re probably well aware by now. Bryant was largely overwhelmed at the plate on Friday, going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts against veteran James Shields and a ground out in a key run-scoring opportunity. However, he showed surprisingly well on defense, even diving once to his left to take away extra bases.
On Saturday, he went to other way completely early, booting a routine ground ball from Wil Myers for his first career error. Fortunately for Bryant, Myers was soon erased by a Chris Coghlan assist from left field. Matt Kemp followed with a two-run that has accounted for San Diego’s only offense.
On the flip side, Bryant has looked much more comfortable and confident at the plate all afternoon. In addition to his single, he’s walked three times. In the first inning, he battled from an 0-2 count to draw the walk. The second time, he was down 1-2 in the count.
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Those are signs of a batter who’s already adjusting to the game plan the Padres are using to get him out, and a batter who’s willing to be patient to get pitches he can drive.
If you ask the Cubs, that’s exactly the guy they want Bryant to be. Though it’s obviously much too early to tell if he can be that with any consistency, it has to be very encouraging to see him put a rough debut behind him, rather than compound it with overtrying on day two. .
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
