Kris Bryant’s status with the Rockies remains up in the air, at best. The former NL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player signed a seven-year free agent contract four offseasons ago but has thus far managed to play in only 170 games due to a cascade of injuries — the most notable among them being a degenerative lumbar condition in his lower back that continues to cause him pain. The Rox already placed Bryant on the 60-day injured list (upon signing right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano shortly after camp opened), and Bryant told the team’s beat he’s unsure as to when or whether he’ll be able to resume playing (video links via Kevin Henry of the Denver Gazette).
Bryant noted that he’s been “waking up in pain every day” and been unable to progress beyond relatively minor physical activity, let alone baseball activities. The 34-year-old acknowledged that even jogging “is giving me a big problem right now.”
There’s no timetable for Bryant’s return at present. He played in only 11 games last season and 37 the year prior. He’s reached 200 plate appearances only once in his four seasons with Colorado. Asked whether it was worth it for him to continue trying to put his body through the rigors of rehabbing, Bryant replied (via Thomas Harding of MLB.com):
“I honestly try not to let myself get there, just because, when you’re going through it every single day, you just try to make it day to day. I think people out there with chronic pain, you don’t want to think about so far in the future, because you’re trying to get through the day. So I haven’t let myself get there.”
Bryant’s physical decline has been ongoing for some time, but it came about in abrupt fashion. In 2021, he played 144 games between the Cubs and Giants, turning in a combined .265/.353/.481 slash (24% better than league average) with 25 home runs in 586 plate appearances. His debut season with the Rockies was shortened by a monthlong absence due to a lower back strain, but it was a bout of plantar fasciitis that really limited his time on the field. He appeared in only 42 games but was at least excellent when healthy, hitting .306/.376/.475 in 181 plate appearances.
Since that time, Bryant has been placed on the IL due to a heel injury, a broken finger and a ribcage injury. He’s now had four IL stints (including the current one) due to lower back troubles dating back to Opening Day 2024. Last year’s IL placement on April 14 proved to be season-ending in nature.
On a purely baseball level, Bryant’s repeated injury struggles are understandably maddening for Rockies fans, who see the albatross contract as emblematic of a former leadership regime that far too often put the Rockies on a negative trajectory.
From a purely human level, it’s unfortunate to see anyone’s career so aggressively derailed by a chronic, degenerative condition that could have lasting implications for Bryant well beyond his playing days. To already be facing such a debilitating physical condition at a young age — Bryant turned 34 on Jan. 7 — must be grueling from a mental and emotional standpoint, particularly for someone whose career began with such promise. Regardless of what happens with Bryant’s baseball career, one would hope that doctors are able to find a means to simply allow him to live his life in a a state of relative comfort — which does not sound to have been the case for quite some time now.
I’m starting to think this guy hates baseball as much as Rendon does…
I’m starting to think that you’ve never heard Kris Bryant talk
He didn’t even read this article where Kris talks about the pain and physical state he’s in being so bad he doesn’t even want to think about how close he is to playing because he’s so far off. Back issues are no joke and rarely get much better. I just hope he gets healthy enjoy to be able to enjoy post baseball life with his family.
What an absolutely ignorant comment. Bryant was an absolute joy to watch play. If you’ve watched or listened to any interview he’s given, you can tell how much pain he is in and how much he wants to play.
As a Cubs fan I feel so bad for Kris Bryant. I can tell you unequivocally that he is nothing like Rendon. Their careers have taken a similar trajectory but Bryant is dealing w a degenerative condition and it pains him to not be playing. He passed on attending the Cubs convention this year cause of the optics w his current team. The guy is a class act.
Do you not feel how sad he sounds? He just wants to play ball again
You clearly didn’t read the article. That’s such a disgusting and rude way to look at this. If you had a degenerative condition I’m sure you’d be pissed if people called you lazy and a slacker. You know you can actually think critically right?
Nah he’s different than Rendon
Having degenerative disc disease myself in the lower spine with encroachments on the sciatic nerves, the pain he’s talking about is real. Somedays you can’t even tie your shoes!
Right now Morgs is like Regan gleefully watching Father Karras trying to revive Father Merrin.
I see four separate references in your post here and I don’t have any idea about any of them. Like not a clue what these names are referring to…but my wild guess is Game of Thrones???
No, but why spoil it for you when you actually get a chance to watch it?
@13Morgs13: You lost me at “I’m starting to think”.
Reading must be tough for him.
I’m starting to think you lack reading comprehension.
I’d hate to have that bad of a back at 34 years old. I hope he can just get back to living a normal life. Heal up, Sir.
Why has he not retired yet?
Because if he voluntarily retires purely due to discomfort and not because he was medically required to by team/league approved doctors, he’d forfeit whatever was left on his contract.
He still wants his money. Understandably so.
I’m sure he’d be broke w/out it
99.9999999% of people in his shoes would do the exact same thing
Money. Gil Meche retired when he knew he couldn’t compete anymore and saved the Royals $11 million. Nothing but respect for him as a professional and person.
Least Meche was a stand-up guy & not a thief
Oh please spare me your nobility.
At least Bryant seems like a nice guy, unlike some other people.
He just loves the game
He’s trying to have hope to play. He LOVES baseball.
I watched him play in high school, this is the kid that was always first one there and last one to go home.
This is killing him, he wants to be able to play
Rea$on$.
He isn’t gonna retire unless it’s a medically required retirement that the team and insurance can’t get out of, so that he gets every last dollar of that contract- which he absolutely should try for. But clearly he cannot play anymore.
But he ain’t gonna voluntarily retire with $80M left on his deal.
Nice of him to keep taking the Rockies $ in the meantime
They didn’t have to sign him to that ridiculous contract. It’s totally on them.
It was nice of him to accept it though
I agree.
Was he supposed to NOT accept it?
Don’t feel bad for Bryant. He took that money from Colorado afterall.
100
I feel bad for Bryant, the same as I would for anyone with chronic back pain. That really sucks.
Do you not hear how much he wants to play again? He is disappointed that he can’t play, and at the end of the day, millionaires have feelings, too
Its colorados fault for overpaying him when he had red flags at the time, it’s not like he was holding their front office at gunpoint to force them
He can take over for Tony Clark and really teach the PA to screw with the owners.
World Series W and MVP by his second season age 24. Sad situation but many players would give up the second half of their career for such heights.
One of the best humans to play the game. It has to be agonizing to not be able to play the game tha you love, especially when you know that when healthy, you could be one of the best in the game.
Grateful for every moment he provided Cubs fans. And while I can absolutely sympathize with the frustrations of Rockies fans, I think the human side of what KB is going through is where many a fan’s hearts are…
Best humans to play the game????
Really?????
Thats what you say about Roberto Clemente. Not this guy. Calm down.
He is one of the best humans….he is the one that confirmed for us that “St. Louis is boring.”
He’s the greatest human of all-time
At 34 if he has pain getting out of bed in the morning, that’s bad. That does not look good for him returning much less contributing. Hopefully they can figure out what’s going on for him long term,
This sucks to hear. He is a class act.
Did he ever have spinal surgery on it?
Back surgery is at best a hopeful thing. It is a 100% cure unless you get really lucky. Right now, the best hope is that it will alleviate his pain and allow him a relatively normal life after baseball. But competing at the highest level is likely not ever going to happen again. I hope he gets well, but I also hope to never see him on the field in a Rockies uniform again.
I think baseball needs a 180-day IL for people who get injured before the season starts or in the first month, and miss the rest of the season. Maybe just one slot per team. Their paycheck wouldn’t count against the CBT.
Sadly, he’s probably done.
The Rockies should work out some type of retirement agreement with Bryant. Clearly his playing career is over, and has been for a while. Reaching some kind of agreement deferring his remaining salary over an extended period would benefit both sides. Bryant would still receive all of his money, but spread over several years. That would ensure he has income over those years. The team would be able to save some money over the next few years and clear a roster spot. Of course, they could also offer Bryant some other position with the team, allowing him to stay connected to the team and earn his guaranteed salary.
this is the most likely scenario, although it’s “only” 3 more years, so they might be inclined to just bite the bullet and eat the money across that span instead of spreading it out. don’t see the Rox being realistic playoff contenders for a few years at (very) best
Worse contract, kris bryant or anthony rendon?
Rendon.
Just a shame for both parties obviously the Rockies aren’t getting what they wanted but Kris Bryant obviously doesn’t want this either so I hope fans are understanding to him and don’t make him feel bad for something he can’t really control.
Kris Bryand should retire.
He should have his Rep negotiate a settlement and move on.
As Bryant ages it will only get worse, not better.
If he keeps trying to do what his body is telling him not to do
then he could end up in a wheel chair.
He has made generational money in his career.
Obviously, he cannot do it anymore.
Hang up those cleats !
I think the better comparison to Bryant is David Wright, a beloved all time Met, who suffered thru his last few yrs with lower back issues before hanging up his cleats.
Trade him to the Cubs in a buyout and let him retire
The problem has nothing to do with nobility but rather it is hard to be empathetic to an individual making more money than my whole town combined. Baseball is grueling but it has become an elite sport where cost for tickets, jerseys, merchandise even ball cards are too expensive for the common person and for those who are poor.
Rockies need to come to terms on a release for this guy. Way past time to turn the page on this nightmare.
Hope he gets better that being said the Cubs were smart letting Bryant Rizzo and Baez walk
You gotta feel for the guy. After his 1st two seasons, we thought we were watching a future HOF’er.
Was there a certain baseball injury that triggered this degenerative condition, or would this likely have happened whether he played baseball or not ???
Such a bummer. He has more talent than the majority of guys in MLB. His body just failed him.
All you people complaining about him taking the money while not being able to play are probably the exact same people that complained when Bryant didnt get enough service team and his free agency ability was extended a season.
Exact same guy….
Kris, you deserve every single penny you signed for…
This coming from a fellow millionaire?