Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant has spent a lot of the 2024 season on the injured checklist, and his newest journey to the shelf resulting from a strained again started early final month. Supervisor Bud Black supplied an replace to reporters (together with Patrick Saunders of The Denver Publish) relating to Bryant’s standing earlier than the membership’s sport in opposition to the Brewers on Saturday, and it appears attainable that Bryant received’t return from the IL earlier than the top of the 12 months.
Black indicated that Bryant’s again, which is tormented by persistent disc issues and extreme arthritis at this level in his profession, is doing “higher” and that the 32-year-old is “feeling good” at this level. Nonetheless, there’s been no indication that Bryant has resumed baseball actions. With simply three weeks remaining within the common season and the 53-90 Rockies eradicated from playoff competition, it’s unclear if Bryant will be capable to return this season. Black’s feedback on the matter backed up that evaluation as he described Bryant’s standing as “questionable,” referencing the time period used within the damage experiences of different sports activities leagues just like the NFL whereas acknowledging that the membership is “working out of time” to get Bryant again onto the sphere.
If Bryant doesn’t return to the sphere this season, he’ll end the 12 months with simply 37 video games performed and a lackluster .218/.323/.301 slash line in 155 journeys to the plate this 12 months. The previous famous person as soon as appeared to be on a Corridor of Fame monitor when he received NL Rookie of the Yr in his debut 2015 season earlier than following up with the 2016 NL MVP award, however after slashing .278/.376/.504 (134 wRC+) within the first seven years of his profession with the Cubs and Giants, his profession has taken a nosedive resulting from accidents ever since he signed a seven-year, $182M take care of the Rockies earlier than the 2022 marketing campaign. He’s solely been in a position to play 159 video games within the three seasons since he first donned the purple and black, with a disappointing .250/.332/.381 (88 wRC+) line throughout that point.
In keeping with Saunders, it’s unclear whether or not Bryant may have common enjoying time down the stretch this 12 months, even when he have been to make it again from the injured checklist. Michael Toglia has locked down first base in Bryant’s absence after hitting a scorching .255/.368/.516 with ten dwelling runs in his final 47 video games. Nolan Jones received’t be vacating left discipline to make room for Bryant both because the 26-year-old searches for the shape that earned him a fourth-place end in NL Rookie of the Yr voting final 12 months amid a down season.
If he returns, he might discover enjoying time between proper discipline and DH. Nonetheless, with 14-year Rockies veteran Charlie Blackmon within the midst of what may very well be the 38-year-old DH’s last season in Colorado and prime 100 prospect Jordan Beck attempting to ascertain himself as an possibility for the membership in proper discipline headed into 2025, it’s not troublesome to think about a situation the place Bryant struggles to search out enjoying time even when he have been to return to the sphere earlier than the 2024 marketing campaign involves an in depth. That mentioned, there have been begins within the outfield corners afforded to bench gamers like Jake Cave and Sam Hilliard in latest weeks that Bryant might theoretically tackle if he have been to return to the roster within the coming weeks.
