Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein says having rookie phenom Kris Bryant start the season at Triple-A Iowa is no big deal.
“I’m kind of laughing at how big a story this has become,” Epstein told Chicago’s WSCR-AM radio last week.
“The reality is that for players with less than 300 plate appearances or 250 at-bats or whatever is at Triple-A, the norm is to get more seasoning. In Kris’ case, he changes people’s perception because he’s so mature and advanced, he handles things in stride, he comes across like a 30-year-old veteran even though he’s only 23.
“I think that’s gotten people a little ahead of themselves.”
Bryant dominated minor league pitching last season with 43 home runs and a .325 batting average in stints at Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. He was considered by many as likely to join the big club this spring.
Then there were reports that the Cubs wanted Bryant to start the season at Iowa as part of a contract scenario that would eventually his delay free agency. But Epstein said any any call is based on performance and what’s right for both sides.
“Those are baseball decisions and that’s how we’ll make them,” Epstein said.
Meanwhile back in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said a Cubs proposal to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speed up bleacher and video board projects was a non-starter.
Crane Kenney, the Cubs’ president of business operations, said cold weather has delayed the project to the point that new right field bleachers won’t open until June. Left field remains on schedule for a May 11 debut but only if the city granted approval for crews to work an accelerated schedule.