Not only are Kris Bryant’s ridiculous numbers at Double-A leading to speculation about when the Cubs will call him up, the slugging third baseman won the Southern League’s annual Home Run Derby last night too.
Bryant hit .355 with 22 homers, 20 doubles, and a 1.160 OPS in 68 first-half games, posting a .458 on-base percentage and .702 slugging percentage. And then he smacked 16 more homers in the Derby to beat out Diamondbacks first base prospect Jon Griffin for the title.
It would be difficult for any prospect to dominate a league more thoroughly than Bryant did in the first half at Double-A, but general manager Jed Hoyer has insisted that the Cubs have no immediate plans to call him up to the majors or even to promote him to Triple-A. So last year’s No. 2 overall draft pick will continue making life miserable for Southern League pitchers.