Kris Bryant Has Not Played Since Being Hit by Pitch on Sunday
The Chicago Cubs have taken a wait-and-see attitude toward star third baseman Kris Bryant. The player was hit by a pitch in the helmet on Sunday against Colorado.
On Thursday, Bryant sat out his third game when Chicago played the Milwaukee Brewers. The third baseman cleared all protocol for concussion the day he was hit. However, the team said he is not ready quite yet to return to action.
Manager Joe Maddon called it day-to-day before the Cubs went out and beat the Brewers 1-0 on Thursday. He added that he was not expecting bad news. The team is just waiting for all involved to be on the same page. Once that is accomplished, Bryant will return.
According to the Cubs manager, the decision is for the most part Bryant’s. Maddon said Bryant may be available to come off the bench on Thursday. However, the Bryant may need another few days after taking a German Marquez fastball of 96 mph of the helmet.
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Kris Bryant walked from the field with help from the training staff of the Cubs and Maddon and then passed every concussion test.
Maddon told reporters he was listening to Bryant and to what he needs now and making sure all medical procedures are followed so everything is done right.
Teammate and first baseman Anthony Rizzo thinks Bryant is headed in the right direction and seemed good, but it’s scary, added Rizzo.
Bryant has not spoken to the press while under evaluation by the team. He has been in the batting cage the last couple of days while being monitored by training staff and was scheduled to see the team doctor on Thursday.
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Teammate Jason Heyward said that Bryant must put what happened behind him quickly. Heyward had his jaw broken by a pitch late in the 2013 season, but he was able to return quickly due to the playoffs approaching and it was not until the following season did he suffer lingering effects, describing it as “awkward†at times if he faced a left-hander on the mound.
Bryant may be waiting until he simply feels comfortable enough to face live pitching.
Maddon said without Bryant in the lineup everything changes and it is difficult to maintain a level of success that is needed when players like Bryant are missing.
