Grading on the Curve’s Number One prospect in minor league baseball is en fuego. The day may have been highlighted by #FerrellTakesTheField, but Kris Bryant did the best he could to steal the show.
Yesterday was highlighted by baseball’s hottest new prospect. Will Ferrell teamed up with Funny or Die and Major League Baseball in a fundraiser for the fight against cancer. In case you missed it (and I’m not sure how you could have!) Ferrell played every position in the field, and he did it for ten different teams. The Cactus League saw Ferrell swap uniforms mid-game, arrive in a helicopter and the prodigal son return to San Diego.
It was met with some mixed reviews, as a small conglomerate saw it as a mere publicity stunt that desecrated the game, but overall, Ferrell succeeded. He may have whiffed in all of his at bats, but the day raised $1 million for Stand Up 2 Cancer.It wasn’t the first time a celebrity appeared at spring training for charity (Garth Brooks did it several times) but it was certainly the most memorable.
Bryant is having himself a rather memorable Spring Training himself. If it weren’t for the service time rule that would essentially save the Cubs millions down the road, Bryant’s spring performance thus far would have the third base job all locked up. And we are barely two weeks into the Cactus League season.
A brief recap of the rule may be helpful for those not in the know. The second a minor leaguer steps foot in the Major Leagues, his service time clock is running. Once they play 172 days in the big leagues, they are one step closer to arbitration and thus, one step closer to big bucks. Despite Bryant hitting bomb after bomb, The Cubs will most likely hold Bryant back until May, so he misses 30 days of the season and thus, doesn’t reach the 172 games.
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That doesn’t mean Bryant hasn’t earned it. If there was a Spring Training Player of the Week Award, Kris Bryant already has this week’s in the bag. The fireworks started in the fourth inning on Tuesday when Cubs’ top prospects Jorge Soler (who also homered yesterday), Javier Baez and Bryant went yard back-to-back-to-back. Yesterday, when Will Ferrell was supposed to be in the limelight, Bryant once again took control.
While the Anchorman was whiffing, Bryant crushed the ball twice. The 6-foot-5, 215 pound beast isn’t just hitting home runs. He’s hitting the type of home runs that outfielders don’t even waste their time chasing. He is hitting home runs that are going out of the park, never mind the yard. He is on an absolute tear, and if there were any question whether he was the No. 1 prospect in baseball, he has certainly answered them.
Yes, it is only spring training, but Bryant is making the most of it. He is batting .500 (7-for-14), with four home runs. He has driven in six while scoring six. Four of his seven outs have come by strikeout, so one he is still a bit of a free swinger, but he clearly is commanding the plate. He has also walked twice, reaching base 9 times in his 16 plate appearances.
The rule is part of the game, and the Cubs aren’t the only team that make decisions based upon it. Bryant is a game changer, and hopefully the Cubs can stay atop the standings until their young slugger makes his debut. Once Bryant gets the call, it is going to be an exciting season at Wrigley.
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