Colorado Rockies utility player Kris Bryant has spent most of the season on the IL, and his return for the remainder of the season looks doubtful. The clock is ticking, and it is unlikely that we will see Bryant play. The former National League MVP with the Chicago Cubs joins the San Francisco Giants’ Kyle Harrison and the New York Mets’ Jeff McNeil as players recently announced as unlikely to return this season.
Kris Bryant “Questionable” To Return From Injured List This Year https://t.co/lPx68XgmuM pic.twitter.com/ijgMHkrdWn
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) September 8, 2024
Former NL MVP Kris Bryant Unlikely to Return from IL
The sad reality is that if Bryant doesn’t return, he will only have played in 159 of 486 team games since signing with the Rockies. Colorado still owes him $108 million from his contract. Rockies manager Bud Black informed reporters that he’s feeling healthier. According to The Denver Post, he also told them regarding Bryant, “You know, in the NFL, you’ve got ‘probable,’ ‘questionable,’ and ‘doubtful.’ I’m going to say it’s questionable, but we’re running out of time.” With his long absence this season, it can be easy to forget that he even plays for the Rockies. It’s unfortunate how he’s gone from being such a prominent player to being an afterthought. He has only played 37 games this season.
Bryant hasn’t played since August 10 as he has been recovering from a back issue. Bryant remaining with the Rockies after this season also seems questionable, but the fact that they still owe him a chunk of money would hurt the Rockies. Bryant’s seven-year contract means he would take up a spot until 2028, impacting the chance for younger players to break through. It is a sticky situation, but Bryant’s injury-plagued season has undoubtedly stung. Even if Bryant were to return, the Rockies are in last place in the NL West. His chance to make a lasting impression with so few games left seems slim.
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