SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Kris Bryant has reported to Rockies spring training, and he has a locker in the Salt River Fields clubhouse, but he’s not a baseball player.
Tuesday, while his teammates went through their first full-squad workouts, Bryant was suited up in Rockies purple, but he was a bystander. He cannot run, let alone compete on the field.
“Any time my feet hit the ground, I feel like I could probably fall over,” Bryant said. “It’s unfortunate and obviously not how I want this to go. I’m here to figure things out and find out if there is a way to get better.”
Bryant, who turned 34 last month, continues struggling with a degenerative back condition that makes everyday life painful and is threatening to end his career. He has still not conceded that retirement is inevitable, saying he “doesn’t want to go there.”
Renck: Kris Bryant looks done in Colorado. That is one of many good things happening for Rockies
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But the Rockies have already put Bryant on the 60-day injured list, and there are no plans for him to play this season.
"We've talked a lot," manager Warren Schaeffer said. "There's really not much to say about it other than the guy's back really hurts, and he's having a tough time progressing.
"We have to prepare like he's not going to play. That's just the way we have to go about it, hoping that he has a recovery and a breakthrough. But was of now, his back really, really hurts. It's a real thing. He just can't play baseball."
Colorado Rockies left fielder Kris Bryant (23) heads to second base on a double against Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson (31) in the 4th inning at Coors Field July 28, 2022. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Bryant has played only 170 games with Colorado since signing a franchise-record seven-year, $182 million free-agent contract before the 2022 season. He’s hit .244 with 17 homers and 61 RBIs. He has three years left on the deal, and the Rockies still owe him $81 million.
The one-time National League MVP and hero of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship has been diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disc disease. The condition involves the wear and tear of the spine in his lower back and has required multiple treatments, including an ablation procedure, to manage the pain. He's tried pilates and hours of physical therapy, but nothing has worked.
"It's not easy waking up in pain every day, but now we are here," he said. 'I'm just trying to determine the next step with the training staff and doctors."
Asked about calling it quits, Bryant replied, "I'm not going to dive deep into that. I don't want to misspeak. I haven't read the reports. My focus is just to find stuff that will help me wake up, hopefully, in a little less pain than the day before."
Bryant, clearly emotional about the topic, said he still clings to hope.
Colorado Rockies first baseman Kris Bryant (23) heads to the cage for batting practice before playing the Tampa Bay Rays for the Rockies home opener at Coors Field in Denver on Friday, April 5, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
"Obviously, I have to," he said. "Because it's not just something I'm going to deal with now, I'm going to deal with this the rest of my life. I've talked to a lot of people about it. I know a ton of people, not just playing baseball, but people who have terrible backs, too.
"I could never have expected this or seen this coming. And now that I'm dealing with it, I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. It's miserable."
How miserable?
"Some days it's hard to grab the toothpaste in front of me," he said. "It's not like that every day, but those days it's like you just wish you had some type of answer."
What is the pain like?
"There are a lot of different sensations I'm feeling," he said. "It just feels like I'm being electrocuted in my whole body. It's not ideal. It's pretty miserable. Maybe this is part of old age, even though I'm not even old."
Schaeffer said he feels for what Bryant is going through.
"Just as a human being," Schaeffer said. "I'm not even close to being in his shoes, but I can relate. I can see how tough it would be on him, with the high expectations for him. ... It's tough for him and we have to be here to support him. That's all there is to it."
Schaeffer expects Bryant to contribute to the Rockies' rebuild as a mentor to young players.
"K.B has done so much in this game, and he's gone through so many experiences, so of course he can help young players," Schaeffer said. "When he's around, it's to the benefit of the young players, for sure."
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