Bryant debuts with a hit, eager for Coors Field

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Kris Bryant made himself less a fantasy and a little more real for Rockies fans on Tuesday, when he lashed a single in his first Cactus League swing in Colorado purple. Social media and -- presumably, actual humans -- lit up.

“I love it,” Bryant said. “Obviously, going to Colorado over the years and seeing the fans there, I always really enjoyed playing there. Granted, a lot of the time we had a lot of Cubs fans coming there, too.

“I hear the people in Denver are awesome. My wife is actually there right now. Coming here today, I felt like we had more fans than the Angels. That makes me feel good, makes all of us feel good. We can’t wait to see them show up at Coors.”

Rockies fans have been dreaming about Bryant, who went 1-for-2 in the Rockies’ 7-4 loss in his first spring action, since he signed. But Bryant has been dreaming of being in Denver since last summer’s All-Star Game, when he represented the Cubs, and before he represented the Giants in the postseason.

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During the All-Star Game, Bryant began dreaming of making Coors Field his home. Of course, it took a commitment of seven years and $182 million to make it happen.

“I loved every minute of it,” Bryant said. “The clubhouse. The chefs. It was a really big event. Just getting a chance to see the home side -- you don’t really get an opportunity to do that -- I was just blown away with everything that they had in there. I already really liked playing there, and just seeing the underneath of the stadium was pretty cool.”

Bryant will play in a spacious left field in Denver. While the ball travels differently at Coors than every other ballpark in the Majors, at least he’ll have a head start. Bryant practices on a field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick that replicates Coors Field’s dimensions.

“It’s a big outfield, for sure, definitely bigger than I experienced at Wrigley Field,” he said. “But even playing with the Giants last year, right field is really big there, too. I’m getting experience with that, but I’m going to learn from these guys and guys who have been there before.

“But it’s also a fun place to hit, too. A big outfield means more hits.”

Manager Bud Black wrote in a regular-season-ish lineup. Raimel Tapia, who figures in the center-field picture, just arrived in camp and is not yet game-ready. Sam Hilliard, from whom the Rockies would love to see power, also plays in center.

When Tapia is around, he would likely bat leadoff. But Tuesday’s lineup had Charlie Blackmon hitting first and Bryant second, followed by Ryan McMahon and C.J. Cron.

After coyly saying he does not want to be pinned to anything, Black said, “That does look like something that could happen.”