Manager Bud Black likes Kris Bryant’s versatility. Loves it, actually.
But Black envisions the Rockies’ new $182-million man playing primarily one position.
“We looking for him to play regularly in left field,” Black told reporters at the Rockies’ Salt River Fields complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Thursday.
Bryant, 30, agreed to a seven-year, $182 million free-agent deal on Wednesday. Pending the completion of his physical, Bryant is likely to officially sign his contract Friday and be introduced to Rockies fans and the media in a news conference at Salt River Fields.
Bryant plans to wear No. 23, the same number he wore when he played the second half of the 2021 season with the San Francisco Giants.
Bryant, a four-time all-star with the Cubs, the National League rookie of the year in 2013, and NL MVP in 2016, is known for his versatility. When the Cubs won the 2016 World Series, manager Joe Maddon used Bryant all over the field.
Last year, while splitting his season between the Cubs and the Giants, he made 47 starts at third base, 35 in left field, 33 in right field, 13 in center field, and 10 at first base.
Black, however, likes the idea of giving Bryant a semi-permanent home in left. He said he’ll play Bryant in other spots “if the situation warrants it.”
“We know he’s moved around a ton,” Black said. “Joe (Maddon) moved him around a ton. When he went to the Giants, they moved him around. And he’s physically, and mentally, been able to handle it fine.
“But I still think that if we can consistently put a player in one spot, that helps the player. But we also know he’s versatile and can handle it.”
Bryant, the second overall pick in the 2013 draft, came out of the University of San Diego as a third baseman, but the Rockies already have their third baseman in Ryan McMahon.
“‘Mac’ was awesome last year,” Black said Thursday.
Bryant, who’s hit .278 with 167 home runs in his seven-year career, will bat in the heart of the order, although whether he’ll hit third, fourth or fifth is still to be determined.
Bryant also will get some at-bats as a designated hitter, now that the DH has been adopted by the National League.
“Kris will DH on certain days, for sure,” Black said. “But I would foresee him playing in the field a great majority of the time.”
Black reiterated what general manager Bill Schmidt has said before. That is, the Rockies plan to use a number of players as their DH, including Charlie Blackmon, C.J. Cron and Raimel Tapia. Tapia will be supplanted in left field by Bryant, but Black indicated Tapia will get a chance to play center field.
Black, who began stressing last summer that the Rockies needed to find someone to boost their offense, also spoke about the intangibles that Bryant brings to the club.
“Like most good players, (he) brings us stability and performance, both offensively and defensively,” Black said. “When a guy’s passed the test of time and you look at his career numbers, that is, for lack of a better term, comforting for a team.”
