Chicago Cubs: How Kris Bryant almost became a Toronto Blue Jay

A long time ago, Chicago Cubs superstar almost became a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. His decision to instead attend college had a league-wide impact.

Drafted by Toronto in the 18th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur player draft out of high school, future Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant failed to sign. Looking back, this lone decision not only impacted these two teams, but all of Major League Baseball.

Trying to imagine what it feels like seeing the one who got away must be a strange prospect. If you are a Major League Baseball team, it is more difficult as that great white buffalo could be the guy to change your entire franchise.

Kris Bryant was a star at Bonanza High School in Las Vegas. One of many future franchise players, in fact, to attend high school in Sin City. Out of high school, Bryant had aspirations of attending college. The young player wanted to be a pro baseball player, just like his dad, Mike.

At the helm of his senior year in high school, Bryant committed to the University of San Diego to play baseball with a scholarship worth nearly $50,000 per year. For the Toronto Blue Jays, it was a shot in the dark, a dart throw in making the selection knowing Bryant probably would not sign.

Offered between $1 million and $1.2 million as a signing bonus, Bryant instead forewent the tender and, without knowing it, changed the future of baseball on the North Side of Chicago.

Chicago Cubs: The one who got away

Looking back at the 2010 MLB Draft, it is easy to see the level of talent which was available and why the Blue Jays took the shot they did on Bryant. Bryant’s longtime friend Bryce Harper went first overall that year. A few picks later, Manny Machado heard his name called by the Baltimore Orioles.

Bryant thankfully had a strong support system behind him, where he never felt influenced by the money. Given his dad played in the Show, he understood how it played out and what it would have looked like had Bryant made that decision. Education was valued in the Bryant household, making it an easy choice to choose college.

The Blue Jays focus could have ultimately shifted had Bryant decided to sign out of high school. Five years after Bryant declined the offer, the team signed the top international prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr., son of former Blue Jay great and Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, to a multi-million dollar contract. Guerrero Jr. was just 16 years old at the time and is on the precipice of making his much-anticipated debut in 2019.

Chicago Cubs: Trusting the process

As Bryant made his way to the University of San Diego, instead of signing with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Chicago Cubs were beginning to move their franchise in the right direction. From 2011 to 2013, when Bryant was drafted, the club was piecing together the next wave of prospects with three years’ worth of top-10 picks.

It was the beginning of the golden age for the Cubs. Theo Epstein was at the helm, leading the charge. In a piece from Chicago Cubs’ ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers, the decision for Epstein and the club to select Bryant swayed heavily in the fact that Mark Appel was heading to the Houston Astros as the top pick.

In the piece, according to Jason McLeod, the senior vice president of scouting and player development, it was between the big righty out of Oklahoma Jon Gray or Bryant.

“We felt the best player for the Cubs long-term looking at those two players was Bryant.”

Thank goodness for the logical voice stepping in to make the correct decision here.

Since joining the Cubs, Bryant has won the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year and 2016 National League Most Valuable Player, helped lead the Cubs to a long-awaited World Series title and has earned two All-Star selections.

Quite a number of accolades and accomplishments for a guy who has only been in the league four years. Bryant undoubtedly is one of the best offensive players in the game of baseball today. Cubs fans are certainly thankful for him – and that’s putting it mildly.