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Kris Bryant's transition to the Colorado Rockies hasn't been smooth sailing. The former Chicago Cubs star has faced a barrage of criticism and, shockingly, death threats from fans following a series of disappointing performances.
In his first season with the Rockies, Bryant's numbers have been underwhelming. He hit just five home runs over 22 games and was worth only 0.6 WAR. Last season was no better, as he slashed .233/.313/.367 with 10 homers over 80 games, worth -1.3 WAR. These performances have raised questions about the Rockies' decision to sign him to a seven-year, $182 million deal.
The criticism reached a boiling point during a recent game against the Tampa Bay Rays. After striking out with a runner in scoring position, Bryant was heavily booed by the Rockies crowd. Despite hitting a two-run homer in the eighth inning to extend the lead, Bryant faced more boos after striking out again in the ninth, with the crowd seemingly forgetting his earlier heroics.
All the craziness that baseball can deliver
After the game, Bryant revealed that he had received death threats and hateful messages. "I've been through it all - death threats, kill yourself ... all the craziness that this game will dish out," Bryant said. "It's just what I've been trying to talk with these young guys about. It takes courage to keep showing up."
"It's going to make you a better person at the end of your career. It's something that I'll be able to teach my kids through adversity, how do you respond to it. And you just gotta keep going," Bryant stressed.
Bryant is not the one to give up
Bryant's struggles have been particularly tough given his stellar career with the Cubs. He was selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft and went on to become the 2014 Minor League Player of the Year, the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year, and the 2016 NL MVP. He is a four-time All-Star and played a pivotal role in the Cubs' 2016 World Series win.
Despite the challenges he's facing, Bryant remains determined to succeed. "I want to play good. That's just who I am and everything I do," Bryant said. "If you play me in Monopoly, I'm going to want to beat you."