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The Colorado Rockies made a big free agent splash a few years ago, shortly after they let Nolan Arenado go in a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kris Bryant came to the Rockies on a huge $182 million deal through the 2028 season. But, once again, he's landed on the injured list and will miss significant time in his Rockies career.
Tomas Harding of MLB.com shared some very candid comments from Bryant, in which the third baseman revealed his stance on a possible retirement, and why he continues to make an effort to return for the Rockies in the face of so many injury issues.
Kris Bryant breaks silence on retirement, future with Rockies, MLB
"Rockies Kris Bryant says the pain in his back won't let him get to baseball activities," Harding reports, "but he continues to consult with doctors and trainers to see what can get him back to playing. He is not retiring, but sticking with rehab."
Bryant, the 34-year-old third baseman, isn't planning to retire just yet. He's still under contract for the next three seasons and is still trying to come back and play.
Since coming to the Rockies in 2022, Bryant hasn't played half a season yet. The most he's played in a season was 80 games in 2023, when he posted -1.0 bWAR with a .680 OPS.
His debut season with the Rockies was a bit more promising, with an .851 OPS and 128 OPS+ before he missed most of the year, playing only 42 games.
That 42-game season in 2022 was the second-most games he's played in a year with the Rockies. In 2024, Bryant played 37 games, putting up -0.7 bWAR with a .623 OPS. This past season, he had a .400 OPS with -0.5 bWAR in just 11 games.
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After so many seasons of injury issues, it wouldn't be strange if Bryant retired. He's not planning to do so just yet, but when pressed about why he's still playing, and whether it's worth it to keep trying to come back, his response was very candid.
"I honestly try not to let myself get there, just because, like, when you're going through it every single day, you just try to make it day to day," Bryant said. "I think people out there with chronic pain, you don't want to think about so far in the future, because you're trying to get through the day. So I haven't let myself get there."
This situation for Bryant is a massively unfortunate one, as the former Chicago Cubs infielder, who looked to be on the Hall of Fame track, has had his career hit an abrupt stop since coming to the Rockies amid a chronic back injury.
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