April is the finest month for a Chicago Cubs fan, because even the Cubs are within a few games of first place in April.
And hope springs anew with each Spring Training This year Cubs fans have extra reason to hope because of young prospect, Kris Bryant. There was only one catch. Bryant did not start the year playing for the Cubs. As reported here in Business Journalism, despite hitting nine home runs in 40 at bats and earning a .425 batting average, Bryant was demoted to the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate for the start of the season. Cubs GM, Theo Epstein, gave Bryant’s need to develop his defensive skills as the reason for the demotion, but many believe that the purpose is to delay Bryant’s eligibility for arbitration and free-agency. Bryant’s ability to avail himself of these mechanisms would kick in 2017 and 2020 respectively if Bryant was on the Cubs’ roster to start the season, but they will kick in a year later if Bryant misses the season’s first ten games.
Thirteen days into the season, the Cubs brought Bryant up from the minors. Mike Olt and his lifetime .158 batting average kept third base occupied while Bryant was improving his defensive skills.
