Kris Bryant at the 2014 Home Run Derby at Engel Stadium
photo by Tim Evearitt
On June 16, 2014, a crowd gathered at historic Engel Stadium in Chattanooga to watch the Southern League All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby.
Although a number of players impressed, one particularly did -- Kris Bryant, the then-22-year-old third baseman for the Tennessee Smokies in the Sevier County/Knoxville market.
After noticing how big the park that was built in 1930 looked with its 471-foot centerfield marker and its 26-foot-high outfield walls, he adjusted his swing and approach and managed to hit a few balls out, including onto Third Street.
“I hope no one got hurt,” he was quoted in an article as saying at the time.
He hit eight home runs in the first round of the competition, four in the second, and then four more in the third and final round against Mobile’s Jon Griffin to clinch the title with three of his five outs remaining.
The fans who also saw him get a hit in the all-star game the next night at AT&T Field knew they were witnessing someone special and a likely rising star.
Now, all baseball fans know of his skills, as last week he was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player for helping lead the Chicago Cubs to its first World Series title in 108 years.
In the process, the former University of San Diego collegian and Las Vegas schoolboy star also became one of countless present or former major league greats to have showcased their talents locally either for Chattanooga or against the Lookouts.
Others have included Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Ferguson Jenkins, Dale Murphy, Cal Ripken Jr., Yasiel Puig, and even Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan, among many others.
As with most of these players, Mr. Bryant was not at the Double-A level for long.
After being drafted as the second player overall in the 2013 draft behind Mark Appel, currently a pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, Mr. Bryant played for two Class A teams in 2013 before joining the Smokies in 2014.
He went on to play for the Class AAA Iowa Cubs during the second half of 2014, but during his short time in the Southern League, he starred. While wearing No. 17 for the Smokies, the same number he wears for the Cubs, he hit 22 home runs, batted in 58 runs and had a batting average of .355.
He also played in two series against the Lookouts, who were then affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. On April 9-13, 2014, at Smokies Stadium in Sevierville, Tennessee won four out of five. In the fourth inning of the April 12 game, Mr. Bryant hit a homer, his third of the season.
From May 1-4, the two teams met up again, this time at Chattanooga’s AT&T Field. The Smokies won three out of four in this one, including on May 3.
And during the fourth inning of that game, Mr. Bryant came up to bat and managed to hit a two-run homer – his sixth of the season – with a shot that went sailing toward the freeway and the Tennessee River.
His career has continued on an upward journey, too, highlighted by this past season’s tally of 39 home runs, 102 RBIs and a batting average of .292 for the world champion Cubs.
Jcshearer2@comcast.net
Kris Bryant in Chattanooga in 2014
photo by Tim Evearitt