Former MVP and World Series champion Kris Bryant is undergoing a major change in 2024 - he will be the primary first baseman for the Colorado Rockies.
Per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post:
Bryant is penciled in to be Colorado’s starting first baseman, though he will also get at-bats as a designated hitter and could see some time in right field. He started seven games at first base last season, his first time playing the position since 2021. Before the 2023 season, he had made 23 career starts at first.
But the Rockies didn’t give Bryant the big bucks to play first. They paid him to slug and spice up what’s been one of baseball’s most tepid offenses.
The decision to move from the outfield to first base could be part of an effort to keep Bryant healthy in 2024. Since signing in Colorado before the 2022 season, he's played just 32 percent of the team's games. He played in 42 in 2022 and 80 in 2023.
He's also struggled in general since arriving in Colorado, hitting .259 with just 15 homers and 45 RBI in those 122 games.
Prior to arriving in Colorado, Bryant was one of the most productive players in baseball. He won the Rookie of the Year for the Chicago Cubs in 2015 and was a four-time All-Star in Chicago. He helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016 and was the MVP of the National League that year.
Lifetime, he's a .276 hitter with 182 home runs.
The Rockies finished last in the National League West in 2023.
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