Kris Bryant showing Chicago Cubs fans he’s primed for another monster year

After a slow start, Chicago Cubs slugger Kris Bryant has been on an absolute tear, leading the offense and silencing his critics in one fell swoop.

Even saying Kris Bryant has been hot lately is a vast understatement. As the Chicago Cubs put the finishing touches on an 8-2 homestand on the national stage Sunday night, Bryant once again made a statement, blasting a two-run homer in the seventh for some added insurance against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers.

The long ball, his eighth on the season, ultimately proved unnecessary, thanks to another sterling start from veteran ace Jon Lester, who lowered his earned run average on the year to an MLB-leading 1.16. But the story here, at least right now, is Bryant, who has really turned things around in the last month.

No one made much of Anthony Rizzo‘s slow start. Why? Simple. He does this like clockwork every year. The Chicago first baseman draws his walks but doesn’t really do much else in early April. Then, right about the time you turn the calendar to May, he gets scorching hot and continues his march to another 100-RBI campaign.

Bryant, on the other hand, is a notoriously quick starter. He has a career .873 OPS in March and April – and last season, he tore out of the gates at a scorching .948 OPS before falling victim to injury. But that’s not on anyone’s mind right now, because the former Rookie of the Year and National League MVP is firing on all cylinders.

As Kris Bryant goes, so go the Chicago Cubs

When Bryant is driving the ball all over the yard, Chicago tends to do well. Six of his eight home runs this year have come in Cubs wins, including Sunday’s shot. Last season, a campaign largely plagued by injury, he hit a career-low 13 long-balls and slugged a dismal .460.

So what’s changed from last year? Bryant says he’s staying within himself more often

"“It sucked to be hurt, but I don’t think that was the biggest thing,” Bryant said. “I lost timing. I lost that experience on the field … I don’t see myself as a rhythm [moving in the box] hitter. I’m very still in all of my movements. Very small movements. Staying quiet and looking at my previous successes helped a lot.”"

Bryant will look to avoid the pitfall that he stepped into last May after he homered on May 14 (his eighth on the year) and then went homer-less for the next month. Given he’s blasted a trio of home runs and has a 1.357 OPS over the last week, that seems to be something he should have little trouble doing.

Even more encouraging? He’s the owner of a 1.058 OPS over the last month and 1.300 OPS in the past two weeks. This is far more than a hot streak, rather, it’s Bryant getting back to what made him one of the best young players in the game just two years ago – driving the ball with authority.

Chicago Cubs: Doing whatever it takes to win

Unlike some sluggers, Bryant is a consummate professional when he steps into the box, always calm and collected. Despite the similar results, the approach of a guy like him compared to teammate Javier Baez couldn’t be more different.

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In the month of May, Bryant carries a staggering .510 on-base percentage, drawing 13 walks to a mere seven strikeouts in 11 contests.

During that same stretch, the Chicago Cubs sit at 9-2 and have won eight consecutive series, dating back to mid-April, for the first time since 2008.

Heading into Monday’s off-day, Bryant owns a career-best 22-game on-base streak. Chicago begins a six-game road trip on Tuesday, kicking off with a trio of games against the last-place Cincinnati Reds before headed to Washington, D.C. to take on Davey Martinez’s Nationals ball club.

Bryant has been notably stronger at Wrigley Field than away from it this season. But given just how hot he’s been of late, don’t be surprised to see the young slugger get on a roll that doesn’t much care for his surroundings.

We’ve seen it before – and, by most indications, we’re seeing it again once more.