Kris Bryant: When to Draft the Slugger in 2016
By Bill Pivetz
This season was the season of dominating rookies. I could name at least five that will be top 50 picks next season. If you were able to draft any one of them late this season or pick them off the waiver wire, then you got a great steal. One of those players was Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant. So, what can you expect from him in next sophomore season?Â
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle
Owners have a hard time using a draft pick on an unproven rookie. While their minor-league numbers say they are ready, facing big-league pitchers can say something completely different. However, that wasn’t the case for this rookie. Bryant was crushing the ball ever since he joined the Cubs organization.
In his first season, between Rookie, Low-A and High-A ball, Kris Bryant hit nine home runs and 32 RBI with a .336 batting average in 36 games. The following year, in 138 games between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit 43 homers and 110 RBI with a .325 batting average.
Due to a technicality, the Cubs kept Kris Bryant in the minors for the first week of the season. He made his debut on April 17. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his first MLB game. Things would only go up from there. He finished April with 10 RBI, 10 walks and 13 strikeouts with a .318 batting average.
Kris Bryant hit his first home run on May 9. That would be the first of 26 for Bryant. He had 99 RBI, 199 strikeouts and a .275/.369/.488 line after 151 major-league games. He finished second among Cubs hitters in hits, home runs, RBI, batting average, OBP and slugging, all behind Anthony Rizzo.Â
More from Fantasy Baseball
- 5 fantasy baseball waiver wire pivots to replace Triston McKenzie
- Fantasy baseball mock draft 2023, 12-team: Aaron Judge over Trea Turner?
- 3 fantasy baseball sleepers being drafted too late
- NBA DFS picks December 25: Merry Bucking Christmas
- Fantasy Baseball: Hot pitchers worthy of starting this weekend
Bryant was the 11th third baseman taken in ESPN drafts. He had an ADP of 115.2, a 12th-round pick. Getting this kind of production from a 12th-round pick makes any fantasy owner happy. In this site’s league, he was taken in the seventh round, pick 79 in a 12-team league. I picked Craig Kimbrel in Round 6 and Julio Teheran in Round 7. Safe to say those picks didn’t work out as well as Bryant did.
At the end of the 2015 season, Bryant finished 24th on the ESPN Player Rater among hitters and fifth amongh third basemen. Next season, I believe he finishes top 10 and three next year, respectively.
Speaking of next year, I know four third basemen that will be drafted ahead of Bryant. You could make the case for another one or two names, but I like Bryant as the fifth third baseman taken in drafts next year. As a 23-year-old hitter, he can only improve on his great rookie season. I think his power numbers improve a bit while he becomes more patient at the plate.
Kris Bryant is the second-best Cubs hitter and should be drafted as such in 2016.
Projections: 160 hits, 91 runs, 27 home runs, 103 RBI, .278 batting average
Draft: Round 3