Las Vegas’ Kris Bryant savors success, struggles of being Cubs’ star third baseman

MESA, Ariz. —

Kris Bryant fielded grounder after grounder — glove side, backhand, picks, all sorts of spins and speeds and angles — and calmly tossed each ball to the side. It was a portrait of routine found only in the repetitiveness of spring training, a time dedicated to readying one’s mind and body and spirit for the marathon that is a Major League Baseball season.

Once the large bag of balls had been properly struck in Bryant’s direction by the efficient hands of a coach wielding a fungo, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year placed his glove atop his head. He strolled off the practice field at the Sloan Park complex with the confidence of a man certain of his place on a roster many believe will stand atop all of baseball come October.

“It’s different this year,” said Joe Maddon, manager of the Chicago Cubs and the one who will pencil Bryant’s name into a daily lineup. “He knows he’s on the team.”

Never confuse self-assurance with complacency when it comes to the Cubs third baseman. From the fields of Bonanza High to the University of San Diego to now the franchise of Ernie Banks and Ryne Sandberg, Bryant always has adapted and eventually conquered whatever level at which he happens to be competing.

The Cubs and New York Mets open a two-game series Thursday that marks another Big League Weekend at Cashman Field, where local fans can see Bryant before he begins a second MLB season and all the hype and expectations that will come with it.

There is no controversy this spring when it comes to Bryant breaking camp with the Cubs, no stories about him being sent to the minors amid thoughts the team was trying to delay his major league service time. It’s all about improvement now — how he might deliver even better numbers than the .275 batting average and 26 home runs and 99 RBIs and 31 doubles and 77 walks he produced as a rookie once called up. It’s about how he might better his footwork at third base so fewer throws miss intended targets, how he might not strike out a league-leading 199 times again.

“He is incapable of being complacent,” Maddon said. “He’s more relaxed now, but always goes about his business and works very hard mentally and physically. His work ethic is impeccable, and his only agenda is to win on a nightly basis. Listen, he’s also going to struggle again at some point this year. Young guys do. Old guys do. No one goes wire-to-wire without struggling.

“I actually like when they go through the hard times, when they get that deer-in-a-headlights look about them and are making mistakes and striking out and don’t know why. The guys who are really good like Kris are so much better for it when they come out the other side because then they know how to shorten that window of failure the next time they’re looking for a life raft and can’t find one. They’re more equipped to handle it. Kris is more equipped for it now.”

Attention has this way of following young baseball stars, and this spring has unearthed more about the 24-year-old Bryant than the casual fan likely ever knew. Things like he hates flying and boats, that he has become a major face for Red Bull and Express men’s clothing and Stouffer’s frozen foods. And that he is engaged to marry his longtime girlfriend next winter.

He played the role of undercover college student and recently helped a young fan get a date to prom.

But it is his swing and not his social media presence that plays a major role in determining whether the Cubs prove to be as good as believed, one that Bryant has cut down on and tried to make flatter since a season of missing and fouling off far too many pitches. That’s on offense.

He tries fixing himself before throwing too often when playing third, and that leads the ball flying off course, so Maddon wants Bryant to simply trust in his feet and what is off-the-charts arm strength. He is already near the zenith of being a terrific base runner.

“I’ve always been able to improve on things from one season to the next, even going back to high school and college,” Bryant said. “Last year was incredible. I can take so much from that experience, individually and as a team. I’m going to step up to the plate and expect something good to happen each time.

“That’s the only way to play the game. Last year, I was just trying to find my way, to see where I fit. I’m more prepared now. It’s important to believe in yourself, but I’m just another guy in the clubhouse now. I like that.”

He spent last spring often walking into Maddon’s office frustrated at the idea his impressive play on the field wouldn’t translate into the Cubs taking him along when they broke camp, that the business side of things was interfering with the production side. Now, he walks into that same office and the two share simple, friendly banter.

He’s the guy who places his glove atop his head and strolls off the practice field with the confidence of a man certain of his place.

Kris Bryant is on the team, all right.

He’s ready to conquer another level, complete with all the success and struggles that come with it.

Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on “Seat and Ed” on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Twitter: @edgraney