Chicago Cubs: Why it should be Bryant-Rizzo-Contreras

Kris Bryant

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We might not have any idea who’s going to set the table for the Cubs this season, but Bryant should slide nicely into the two-spot. Last season hitting out of the two-hole, Bryant caused some severe damage to opposing pitchers.

In 110 games, Bryant slashed a .309/.413/.530 with a .943 OPS. And while the Cubs did score plenty of runs compared to 2016, Bryant wasn’t involved in all the fun.

He drove in just 73 runs, well short of his 102 he drove in in ’16. But much of that can be placed on the leadoff man, as the Cubs were searching for one from week to week.

But his BAbip was .354, and he hit 19 home runs and drove in 59 from the two-spot. On top of that, he managed to draw 68 walks from that spot in the lineup.

Bryant is still early in his career, but batting second has come easily to him. If there’s one knock on him, it’s his strikeout numbers. When he gets a hold of it, he hits it a ton. But often he finds himself headed back to the bench the victim of a strikeout. 98 times from the two-spot did he do this, and the Cubs will need to find themselves a leadoff man so they can have a chance to start off an inning right.