Chicago Cubs: Three reasons why Kris Bryant could win MVP in 2019

Chicago Cubs: Facing adversity

In a story by The Score’s Bruce Levine, he was transparent about how motivation is helping him entering 2019. Last season was the first year Bryant saw any kind of adversity in this major league career. He’s ready to remind everyone who he is.

“Boy, has it motivated me this year,” Bryant said. “I am excited. Hey, I came on in my career really strong — Rookie of the Year (in 2015). You set those expectations really high after that. When you don’t have a year like that, people go, ‘What are you doing? You suck.’ At the end of the day, you probably don’t. It just wasn’t as good as it was during some of your best years. As a player who understands the ups and downs of the game, I just don’t put much weight into that.

“This is not the first time I have been doubted. The negative stands out more because negativity sells. People want to read that stuff. I think I am at in terms of my abilities in baseball, I read one thing and it motivates me. You just shut that person up or prove them wrong. So bring it on.”

Bryant repeated Monday in an interview with 670 The Score’s Dan Bernstein and Connor McKnight that he is healthy this spring because he didn’t pick up a bat for two months after the season, which allowed him to get fully healthy. So far it seems so, at least in Spring Training games as he’s already launched two home runs. Bryant is back to using his old swing and looks to have come into camp motivated.