Kris Bryant signed a seven-year, $182-million contract with the Colorado Rockies before the 2022 season. In the two years since then, he has missed 239 of a possible 385 games and is about to miss a few more as he makes his seventh trip to the injured list.
By all accounts, his Rockies’ career has been a series of disappointments and frustrations, whether those be Bryant’s or the fans who have grown all too accustomed to seeing him on the sidelines instead of racking up numbers to justify that massive deal.
Colorado’s fanbase appears to be ready to move on from the 2016 National League MVP and his big contract, and while the MLB players’ troubles have been a mixture of bad luck and unfortunate injuries, frustrations within the fanbase are boiling over into petty shots at Bryant.
https://twitter.com/scotty_g6/status/1798865963733127628
“I tell ya, Kris Bryant is one of the greatest bank robbers of all time,” said 9 News sports anchor Scotty Gange during a recent broadcast. “You see, the Rockies’ first baseman is heading back on the injury list, will miss at least another week and a half. In two and a half seasons, he has missed 239 games. That’s about two out of every three. And with his guaranteed contract, Bryant has earned 25 million dollars in those games which he has not played.
“That is stealing. For those wondering, $25 million bucks would be the sixth-greatest heist in world history.”
You can understand the frustrations behind the commentary, and we’re guessing Rockies fans have said far worse about Bryant behind closed doors, but it’s certainly rubbing salt in the wounds. And not everyone agreed with the take.
If you’re rolling with that analogy, he definitely didn’t rob any banks. The bankers have no idea what they’re doing.
— E Tynan (@EvTynan) June 7, 2024
His body broke down, I guarantee you he’s more upset about that than you are. I hate this stuff. https://t.co/1ZBoshQUFz
— Chris Towers is the Riley Greene Preservation Soc (@CTowersCBS) June 7, 2024
I hate to give you the engagement you’re on here begging for but I’ll stay here just long enough to observe: “it’s a great day to have a great day” right into a cheap shot at an injured athlete is weird energy!
But have a great day though! https://t.co/pMuNyYVSRC
— Matthew Trueblood (@MATrueblood) June 7, 2024
Bryant has said that he wished he’d done more research into the Rockies before committing to the franchise, so we’re gonna guess the feelings are all mutual at this point.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.