CHICAGO -- There was a running joke in the Chicago Cubs’ front office whenever Kris Bryant, the team's No. 2 overall pick in 2013, hit one of his mammoth home runs in the minors. One executive might turn to another and simply say, ‘Good pick,’ with a smile.
The story behind drafting the potential franchise-changing player is actually one of doubt -- at least until draft day drew near. Three players -- Stanford pitcher Mark Appel, Oklahoma hurler Jonathan Gray and Bryant -- were the clear top three players on the board. Appel went No. 1 to Houston while Gray ended up at No. 3 for Colorado. But Bryant will be the one making his major league debut before either of the pitchers as the Cubs finally called him up from Triple-A Iowa.
Here’s what Cubs brass was thinking -- including a late twist to the story -- in the days leading up to taking Bryant in the June 6, 2013 amateur draft.
Jed Hoyer, general manager: “It was clear those three players were going to go in the top three. As an organization, we knew we needed pitching but philosophically we felt like taking hitters at the top of the draft was the safer bet. Also, at picking at No. 2 it was hopefully our one shot at picking that high in the draft. Going hitter was safer.”
Jason McLeod, vice president of scouting/development: “In simplest terms it’s just who is the most talented, who is the most impactful? But it’s not always black and white, line them up 1-3. When you’re picking that high, history of the draft will tell you the position players are the better bet unless that pitcher is something really, really special.”
Hoyer: “It was an unusual profile. To hit so many more home runs [31 his junior year] than anyone else. It was shocking. His [college] year was so special. It was hard to put a context on it.”
Theo Epstein, team president: “Gray was on top of some people’s lists. It wasn’t easy.”
Here’s the twist: Complicating matters were whispers in the industry that Gray had dropped his price, possibly to half that of Bryant. That’s a big drop and made him attractive to the Cubs, but by then the front office had met with all three players and weren’t being moved off of Bryant.
Hoyer: “All three of us walked away from that interview like ‘Wow, that is a special kid. And a guy that could handle the pressure.’”
McLeod: “The fact that we get to sit across the table from these guys, a lot of that matters. After the individual meeting with Kris we were so impressed. And the ability to be in this market. We see it now with all of the spotlight on him and he keeps performing at every level.”
Hoyer: “Throughout the spring he kept on growing on us. Not only as a player hitting home runs, but Theo, Jason and I had a great interview with him at a tournament. Just a fantastic kid. He carried himself like a big leaguer then. Was serious yet relaxed.”
Epstein: “The makeup, the background, how guys are wired it’s such a huge emphasis in everything we do. We have been really fortunate that we have taken guys we want wearing that Cubs jersey.”
The Cubs admit they might have had a more difficult call if Appel and Bryant were both available at No. 2 as the front office had a long history with the pitcher. They weren’t sure what Houston was going to do but were ultimately convinced Bryant was the way to go.
Epstein: “During the week we were pretty convinced.”
Hoyer: “That day we met with him was as important as anything. When you are the second pick in the draft in a major market you’re going to carry a lot of pressure. It was obvious from that meeting that we had, he was going to be able to handle that.”
McLeod: “When you’re picking where we’ve been picking you have to get it right.”
If Bryant’s professional career to this point is any indication, the Cubs made the right call. But only in hindsight might it look that way because baseball drafts are always a crapshoot. He was dominant in college and then dominant in the minors. We’re about to find out what his major league career is going to look like. So far, the Cubs can say ‘Good pick’ because he looks to be just that.