I don’t like playing the role of the concerned guy, especially when there isn’t much information available. But this whole Kris Bryant stuff is beginning to worry me a bit…
In case you’ve been living under a rock these past several days, the Chicago Cubs star third baseman, Kris Bryant was hit in the head by a 96-MPH fastball from Colorado Rockies starter, German Marquez. Later that day, Bryant had passed concussion protocol but has remained out of the lineup since.
Getting hit in the head is not for the faint of heart. Not only can someone have delayed concussion effects, but the biggest fear is if and when a player is comfortable stepping back into the batter’s box again.
Example being, former Cubs prospect Adam Greenberg. In Adam’s Major League debut, on the first pitch he ever saw as a Major Leaguer, Adam was hit in the head on a Valerio de los Santos fastball. Ed Sherman wrote about Greenberg’s troubles that stemmed from the errant throw back in 2005.
“The errant delivery, which caused concussion and vertigo symptoms lasting a couple years, effectively ended Greenberg’s major-league career — with the exception of an official at-bat with the Marlins in 2012.”
This isn’t the only nightmare scenario, there have been many other injuries, some less severe and one that even caused death. But injury aside, there is a mental aspect of just stepping into the box again, one that can cause lasting effects throughout one’s career. Fear and doubt are huge things for any professional athletes, especially those that have to sit in a box and watch 95+ MPH fastballs whiz past their heads.
Cubs manager, Joe Maddon has said that Bryant has been available off the bench, but in a 1-0 game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, you would think the team’s best hitter would be the first off the bench for an at-bat.
Being clear, I am not suggesting that Bryant is afraid, or that there is some other lasting effect of the beanball. I, and so are many other fans, concerned that it is taking this long to get him back in the box after passing concussion protocol almost immediately. I know the Cubs medical staff wanted to observe him, and the organization decided to hold off his return a couple of days. But from all public conversation before each game since it had appeared that Bryant’s return was up to him. I am all for playing it safe, especially this early in a season and this early in a career, but eventually, the best medicine is to get back up on that horse.
Let’s hope he gets back on that horse Saturday.
