REPORT: Kris Bryant to be promoted to Chicago on Friday

The time has come.

According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago, the Chicago Cubs will promote their highly-coveted third base prospect Kris Bryant ahead of Friday’s game at Wrigley Field against the San Diego Padres.

The young slugger led all of Major League Baseball with nine home runs this spring – leading many to call for his inclusion on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster. However, due to service time issues, he was sent to Triple-A Iowa, where he hit three home runs already this season.

In what is believed to be his final game with Iowa, Bryant hit a three-run home run, narrowly missing a second one of the night after being robbed by a New Orleans outfielder at the wall. On the year (spanning seven games), the Las Vegas native has a trio of long-balls and 10 runs batted in.

Last year between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, Bryant launched a Minor League-leading 43 home runs, while driving in 111 runs, good enough for Minor League Player of the Year honors.

The former number two overall draft pick hasn’t missed a beat since being selected, quickly attaining the reputation as one of the best pure hitters in all of baseball.

In a corresponding roster move, Bruce Miles reported that infielder Mike Olt will be headed to the disabled list with a hairline fracture of the ulna after he was hit by a pitch earlier this week. It seems likely that Neil Ramirez will likely head to the disabled list and outfielder Chris Denorfia will join the big league club, as well.