Scott Boras: Bring Bryant Up In September
(CBS) The calls for the Cubs to promote elite prospect Kris Bryant to the majors just grew a little louder.
For some time, Chicago fans have pined for a glimpse of the future, hoping Bryant gets a call-up sometime this season and the full-time third base (or elsewhere) job next season in the majors. Now powerful agent Scott Boras, who represents Bryant, has chimed in with his support for a big league promotion as well.
"That word 'fair,' I don't think it comes into (play)," Boras told the Chicago Tribune. "This is a business operation, and I think Kris is aware of it. In many, many situations, on most clubs, Kris Bryant would be in the big leagues because they're preparing him to play in the big leagues next year.
"Why not? Bring him up in September, let him get his feet wet, get that out of the way, and let him go hit.
"Certainly his talent has put him in a position where a lot of clubs would consider him to be someone they would put on their opening day roster."
While there's been myriad speculation about Bryant's progression, the Cubs haven't wavered from their plan. In June, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he's doesn't forsee a scenario in which he'd call up Bryant this year, and the organization hasn't budged from that stance since.
Bryant was promoted to Triple-A Iowa in mid-June after hitting .355 with 22 homers and 58 RBIs in 68 games at Double-A Tennessee. In 24 games at Iowa, Bryant is hitting .322 with nine homers and 23 RBIs.
"Fans should be really excited about Kris Bryant," Epstein said last month. "It's funny how quickly the narrative goes from, 'That was a hell of a pick — thank God Kris Bryant's a Cub' to 'Where the heck is he? Why isn't he up here already?' It's important sometimes to take a step back and realize … all of us with the Cubs are really fortunate Kris Bryant's here.
"We are already a better organization because of it. The exact time he makes his major league debut … that's not as important in the big picture as the fact that he looks like he's going to be a really, really good player. He's got tremendous make-up. He's as low-maintenance of a player as you can find."