By Jordan Long
The Colorado Rockies stand at 49-64, last in the National League West. Outfielder Kris Bryant is on the injured list with a broken foot. Bryant is in a boot and there is no timetable for his return. It is time to shut down Bryant for the season.
The Rockies are most likely going to miss the postseason for the 4th year in a row. They are 29.5 games behind the Dodgers who are in first place in the National League West. The Rockies are also 13.5 games back of San Diego for the 3rd and final Wild Card spot.
Colorado thought they would have another “superstar” on the team when they agreed to a contract with Bryant on March 16th, 2022. It was a 7-year, $182 million deal. The Rockies expected to build a winning ball club around Bryant and he would be the face of the franchise for years to come.
This year, Bryant is hitting .306 with 5 home runs and 14 RBI’s. Those are low but that is only a sample size since Bryant only had 160 at bats to this point. In the outfield, Bryant was placed at left field for 30 games making 2 errors. Again, not many games to see Bryant. He has spent the majority of the season battling injuries. The Rockies have seen him more on the injured list than on the field, not what they expected when they signed Bryant.
Since the Rockies aren’t going anywhere this year, it would be better to shut him down for the year. Manager Bud Black thinks that Bryant will be back to finish the season. According to MSN.com, Manager Bud Black said, “He’s in a boot. He’s getting treatment. Really nothing to report other than that. He’s going to continue to work with our trainers to hope to feel better.” Black also added, “Some players have had it and they say the best course of action is to play.”
What is the point of Bryant coming back to play this year? The Rockies are well out of a Wild Card race with 49 games left. If the Rockies were in a playoff race, it would make sense to have Bryant try to come back. The fact is they are not. The Rockies are better off letting Bryant heal and be ready for the 2023 season where he can make an impact to try to help turn the ball club into a winner.
The Rockies will do what they feel is best for the team and Bryant for the rest of the year. Bryant may be back with the Rockies in September to end the season. Either way though, it has been a year to forget for Bryant. Maybe next year will be a different story where the Rockies see a healthy Bryant who plays 100+ games.
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