Not only has Kris Bryant passed Ernie Banks to become the Cubs’ home-run leader for the first five seasons of his career, but he also tops the list in bWAR and doubles and ranks third in RBI, fifth in runs and 10th in hits. It’s impressive, but it comes with an asterisk.
Bryant’s two home runs Sunday against the Pirates raised his career total to 138, two more than Banks had in 1953-57.
Sammy Sosa had 142 homers in his first five seasons with the Cubs, but those weren’t his first five in the big leagues. He already had split one season between the Rangers and White Sox and played two more for the Sox.