Colorado Rockies' Kris Bryant hears the boos at Coors Field in Denver as he recalls darker days early in his career
The life of a major league baseball player is the dream of so many kids growing up. But sometimes it can be a nightmare -- something Kris Bryant spoke about after the Colorado Rockies home opener, a game where he was booed before and after his first two at-bats.
"I try to practice what I preach and what I'm telling these guys, it takes courage to show up every day in this game," said Bryant.
"This game dishes you a lot ... not a lot of ups but way more downs. So just showing up and putting in the work, I know I'm giving it all I got, and at the end of the day that allows me to put my head on the pillow and feel good about myself. I have three boys waiting to give me a hug right now and that makes anything that this game dishes pretty easy to handle."
Powerful and honest words from the Rockies $182 million man. A 7-year contract that Bryant has not lived up to and that makes it hard.
"I feel in this game you are constantly trying to prove yourself," Bryant said. "Trying to prove yourself as a prospect, as someone who signed a contract, as someone who has won an award and they've got to do it again. It's a never-ending process and that makes this game great and will drive you crazy at the same time."
And it's just a game, something some fans forget sometimes.
"I've been through it all. Death threats, 'Kill yourself.' All the craziness that this game will dish out," recalled Bryant. "It's just what I've been trying to talk to these young guys about. Nolan (Jones) has been through it early on and I've just told him it takes courage just showing up."
Jones, who has been struggling at the plate and in the outfield, said Bryant has been a great help to him.
"No secret I had one of the roughest weeks of my life last week in baseball and he was one of the guys that was there for me the whole way," Jones said. "He's one of the guys you want in your clubhouse. He's an unbelievable baseball player and a better teammate in person."
"It's something that I'll be able to teach my kids through adversity," said Bryant. "How do you respond to it? You've just got to keep going."
