Kris Bryant’s performance in spring training 2015 was certainly good enough to make the team. He hit .425/.477/1.175 (1.652 OPS, 17-for-40) with nine home runs (and a 10th homer in a “B” game).
There was little justification for sending him to Triple-A Iowa, but the Cubs did it anyway, saying Bryant needed to work on his defense.
Bryant played seven games at Iowa before Mike Olt (remember him?), the Opening Day third baseman, suffered what was termed a “hairline fracture of his right wrist.” Bryant was recalled — conveniently, exactly on the first day that would give the Cubs an extra year of team control.