Cubs

BREAKING: Kris Bryant to Bat Leadoff

Kris Bryant will reportedly fill the top spot in the Cubs lineup.

by
ontapcontributors
February 19, 2020

Photo: Chicago Tribune

According to Bruce Levine, we have absolute breaking news coming out of Mesa, Arizona this morning…

Breaking news Kris Bryant will leadoff for the Cubs
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 19, 2020

This news is something Cubs fans should not look entirely too much into. Things change throughout the course of a 162-game season. Remember when Kyle Schwarber was going to be the savior at the top of the lineup?

Bryant has only batted leadoff seven times in his MLB career, below are his stats from this small sample size.

It is good to see Kris Bryant essentially step up and take over this role willingly. He went from being subject to trade rumors to willingly trying to fix a hole in the Cubs lineup.

Bryant on leadoff:
"I think the past 3 years we haven’t really had someone that was stuck in the leadoff hole &stayed there. I think we totally took Dexter for granted while he was here. I certainly did, because he was up there working great at-bats. He was always on base …"1/2
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) February 19, 2020

Bryant on leadoff spot, 2/2:
"I think we have so much turnover, just trying certain guys out, you don’t get that consistency. If I need to be the guy that’s up there that's going to be consistent and get on base, I’ll be that guy." https://t.co/bbVDnYUSei
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) February 19, 2020

Bryant said he floated idea of leading off to Ross:

"I didn’t request [it]. I said I’m here to do whatever you want. If you need me to be that guy for you, I’m your guy.”
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) February 19, 2020

I personally think Bryant is better suited in the 3-5 spot in the lineup, but we must trust new manager David Ross. There really has not been an answer to the leadoff spot situation since Dexter Fowler left, so maybe this move will provide a spark.

Worst case, Anthony Rizzo is always available to put on his leadoff cape if necessary.