Former Cub Bryant flashes shades of past self in Rox win

DENVER -- Kris Bryant owns one of the most famous goofy grins in baseball history. Cubs fans beam -- and maybe shed happy tears -- over his look as he fielded a grounder and threw to first for the 2016 World Series.

Well, Bryant’s expression crossed the border from joyous to mirthful after his solo home run in the sixth inning was the go-ahead run in the Rockies’ 6-4 victory over the Cubs on Tuesday at Coors Field.

Bryant’s ninth homer of the season came in his second game back after he missed 45 games with a fractured left index finger. And, yes, it was his first career homer against the Cubs, who sent him to the Giants at the Trade Deadline in 2021.

“Taking seven weeks to heal and then feeling this in the second game back is obviously great -- with no rehab, just going in there and playing baseball,” said Bryant, who homered off reliever Daniel Palencia. “It feels better than most home runs.

“The go-ahead homer -- obviously, they’re in the playoff hunt. And to do it against some old friends to make it a little harder for them feels great. They’ve got a great team. But we're trying to do all we can to not let them win here.”

Bryant, 31, looked as if he had shed the weight of his five trips to the injured list for back, foot and finger injuries since he signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies last spring.

During Bryant’s latest absence, the Rockies pressed the gas pedal to their youth movement, and Bryant watched inexperienced players display talent but prove they haven’t learned to win at the Major League level. Tuesday was just the Rockies’ fourth victory in 21 games.

At several points this season, the quiet Bryant has said he wants to influence younger players. But he didn’t want to come off as forceful, which would have been inauthentic to his easy-going personality. But Bryant has been preaching emotional steadiness to teammates in meetings, and has dropped helpful hints to rookie corner outfielder Nolan Jones, whose size and athleticism is reminiscent of Bryant in his early career.

And Bryant is trying to live by his own advice.

“Most of my career I've been way too hard on myself, and at times I haven't been able to enjoy it as much as I should have,” Bryant said. “I've made it a point of mine to enjoy it as much as I can, because you're not going to get to play ball with these guys forever.”

The best place Bryant can help is in the lineup. He served as designated hitter Tuesday. When available earlier in the season he played right field, but his best fit is now at first base. The hope is the final three weeks of the season will preview how the lineup looks with a healthy Bryant.

On Tuesday, Bryant’s homer came after two bases-loaded opportunities in which the result didn’t match the swing.

In the second, Bryant crushed a pitch to center that Cubs rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong caught at the warning track.

“The out might’ve been my best swing of the day,” Bryant said. “A sinker coming inside and seeing it through to center field. That’s a big sign for me.”

In the fourth, Bryant’s check swing somehow lifted the ball to right for a two-run single to chase Cubs starter Javier Assad.

“A few of us mentioned that he’s got to take that shot back to Las Vegas in the wintertime, on No. 13 at Shadow Creek,” manager Bud Black said.

But those swings and happy homer to left-center off Palencia are Bryant moments at a time when he is also trying to be there for teammates at their best and worst times. He could add the joy of Justin Lawrence to his own.

Removed from the closer role last week, but pitching the ninth because Black did not want to use Tommy John surgery returnee Tyler Kinley for a third straight night, Lawrence recorded two outs before hitting Nick Madrigal and walking Christopher Morel. But Lawrence fanned Nico Hoerner to close out the game and earn his 11th save.

“That’s huge,” Bryant said. “I stood in behind one of his bullpens in Tampa. I don’t know how people hit him at all. He ran into some bad luck. That happens. But for him to keep taking the ball and giving it all he’s got, that’s huge for him and huge for us.”

And Bryant’s smile was there to light the way.