(670 The Score) Former Cubs star third baseman Kris Bryant returned to Wrigley Field on Friday to play his original team for the first time since being traded to the Giants.
After finding his way to the visitors’ clubhouse and settling in, Bryant reflected on his Cubs tenure and what it’s like to play for a different team for the first time in his MLB career.
"It's good to be back, and I haven't had to answer any trade questions any longer,” Bryant said. "Now it's just the other (free-agent) questions. I thought I was escaping it, but maybe after this weekend another chapter will close and other questions can be asked. It's been good, and it's nice to play on the West Coast close to the family, a change of pace. I really have been enjoying it so far.”
Bryant, 29, is hitting .265 with six homers, 14 RBIs and an .815 OPS in 31 games for San Francisco entering play Friday. As he mentioned, escaping the questions about his immediate future has been a relief, as he landed in trade rumors often while with the Cubs over the past few years before he was traded on July 30. In San Francisco, Bryant has joined a Giants team with the best record in baseball at 90-50.
“It's just back to playing baseball now,” Bryant said. “It’s just a different uniform now. We are chasing a division, and we did a lot of that here. A lot of the emotions and feelings are the exact same.”
Bryant was asked what he’ll remember most about his time with the Cubs, who drafted him No. 2 overall in 2013. He then debuted in 2015, when he won the National League Rookie of the Year award before winning MVP honors and leading the Cubs to a World Series title in 2016.
"I was fortunate to be a part of winning teams from the moment I got here,” Bryant said. “I played with (Anthony) Rizzo, (Pedro) Strop and Jake (Arrieta), and they had played on some really bad teams here too. Maybe I was spoiled a little bit, because all I have ever know as a Cub is winning. I accomplished a lot of my goals playing here.”
Bryant was thrilled to return to Wrigley Field, where fans gave him a thunderous ovation in pregame festivities in which a tribute video was played and the Cubs honored him with gifts. Bryant got emotional during the tribute video.
"I am not the best at soaking up big moments,” Bryant said earlier in the day. "I hope this time here I can take it all in, and the fact I am in left field today will help me be able to enjoy it more. I am hoping I can take it in each day. I think I will do a better job of taking it all in this time. I have this date circled on my calendar since I was traded. I am looking forward to a good series here.
"This place is home to me,” Bryant added of Chicago. “I go to my restaurants and shops we like. Any time I am here, it will feel like home. I did think it would be super cool to play my whole career (here). But I never had those thoughts (about being traded) until after it happened. I made the choice to look back at my times playing here and just smile at it. I do not feel ill will toward anybody. Yes, you can be mad at how certain situations are handled, but I got to put on the Cub uniform every day I wanted to. That is so special. How many people get to do that? And like I said, get paid a lot of money to do that.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.