Cubs promote Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant is a Cub. 

I'm not talking about an Iowa Cub. Kris Bryant is now a member of the Chicago Cubs and will be playing third base today against the San Diego Padres, reports said. 

According to reports out of Chicago, the Cubs promoted Bryant last night, exactly twelve days into the season, which will guarantee them a seventh season of control into the future.

His arrival might be the most awaited since the likes of Bryce Harper or Mike Trout. 

He was rated the No. 1 prospect in the minor leagues by Baseball America prior to this season. That's with very good reason. Since the Cubs drafted Bryant with the second overall pick in the 2013 draft, all he has done is hit home runs, hitting 43 between Double- and Triple-A last season. 

A lot of controversy surrounded the Cubs and Bryant when he was demoted following Spring Training, even after hitting nine home runs in just 14 games (40 at bats). 

The Cubs said that Bryant needed to work more on his base running and defense before being able to be called up to the Majors. However, everyone else--including his agent Scott Boras, who had more than a few words on the matter--knew that it was a service time issue. 

Since Bryant will not get a full year's worth of being on the Cubs' Major League roster this season, he won't get a full year of Major League service time. It's that simple. A player can play six full seasons (in service time) before becoming a free agent. Since Bryant won't rack up a full season, the Cubs will get him for a seventh season, 2021. 

Many people had varying opinions on what was right for Bryant, but it was definitely the right move for the Cubs. They sacrificed twelve days of the Major League season to get a full season down the road. Better yet, the Cubs are 5-3 and atop the NL Central without Bryant. 

Thus far with Triple-A Iowa, Bryant is 9-for-28 with three home runs and 10 runs batted in over 33 plate appearances.

Now that Bryant's "defense" and "base running" have been "fixed" up, it's time to see him in the Major Leagues. Cubs fans: the future is now. It is time to get excited for it.

--Devan Fink

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