Kris Bryant – 3B – Chicago Cubs
Height: 6'5" Weight: 215 lbs. -- Hits: Right Throws: Right
2014 Stats (AA & AAA) – 492 AB, .325/.438/.661, 43 HR, 110 RBI, 118 Runs, 15 SB
Scouting Report
Kris Bryant is simply impossible to dislike as a big league prospect. It all starts with his extraordinary power, which travel to all fields. Bryant has an advanced awareness of the strike zone and isn’t nearly as anxious as most young power hitters. He has advanced quickly through the Cubs organization because he has completely destroyed minor league pitching. When he makes contact the ball travels incredibly fast and impossibly far. He is an average defender at third base although many believe that with the Cubs abundance of young infielders he will eventually move to the outfield. Bryant is easily the best power hitting prospect that baseball has seen in the past five years.
Kris Bryant is the very definition of a baseball brat. His Father played in the minor leagues and raised Kris around the game. Bryant is immensely coachable and is a true student of the game. Despite his tall and lean frame, Bryant is fairly athletic and moves well for his size. He will steal a decent amount of bases early on in his career until he both fills out and becomes too valuable to risk on the base paths.
The biggest concern for Bryant is a stunning lack of pure contact in his two professional seasons. Strikeouts are expected for a power hitter of Bryant’s caliber but over his two minor league seasons he’s struck out an astonishing 32% of the time. While that rate is crazy high, it’s livable because of how often he gets on base and the total bases he racks up. But the fact that he only makes contact on about 67% of swings is a legitimate cause for concern. Few prospects ever jump 10% or more in contact rate once they reach the major leagues. That would be what Bryant has to do just to get close to an acceptable big league level.
2015 Analysis
There is a lot of buzz in Chicago about the Cubs competing for a playoff spot in 2015 and Kris Bryant is one of the main reasons behind those beliefs. But fantasy owners must be aware of how the Cubs will handle their prized prospect. Whether the Cubs will chose to “Super Two” him or not is really the question. The odds are against Bryant beginning the season in Chicago unless he absolutely destroys it this spring training. But as long as he doesn’t completely regress in front of our eyes he will be in the middle of the Cubs lineup by the start of June at the latest.
Monitor Bryant’s progress in spring training. As long as he is showing well he absolutely must be drafted in all fantasy formats. But only select him if you are disciplined enough to keep him on your roster while he is hacking away in the minors. Every year fantasy owners draft high-end prospects only to eventually cut them by the end of April. This has backfired miserably for those that took Mike Trout in 2012, Yasiel Puig in 2013 or George Springer last season. His raw power potential is such that he could be rookie of the year even if he begins the season at AAA Iowa.
Compare To
Chris Davis – Another extreme power hitter who hit for a great average despite having major strikeout issues in the minor leagues.
Mark Trumbo – Bryant is more athletic but the efficiency and immense power upside is very close to that of Trumbo while in the Angels system.
Current ADP
Kris Bryant has an average draft position of 104.13 according to the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).
He was drafted in the 9th round (113th overall) in the FSTA Fantasy Baseball League