March 27--MESA, Ariz. -- After learning that Theo Epstein hasn't placed a rookie on his opening day roster as general manager and president with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, phenom Kris Bryant had more incentive.
"I look at it as 'why not me?' " Bryant said after learning of Epstein's past. "I think I'm the type of guy who can go out and do it. I've made a point of showing I can do it.
"The whole spring has been a crazy story, so there are things that go into that I can can't control. I haven't been thinking about it lately. I just been performing on the field and I think I've been doing a good job of that."
The latest twist involves Bryant playing left field Thursday night and impressing manager Joe Maddon by backing up third and then catching a drive and throwing to second base to complete a double play against the Los Angeles Angels.
"It's cool," Bryant said. "I was thinking of it. I probably haven't had an outfield assist since maybe 13. That was definitely a cool first play."
Bryant eased Maddon's concerns by keeping the same arm angle. But it was a different story at the plate, where Bryant took two called third strikes and flied out against Angels ace Jered Weaver.
"Incredible stuff," Bryant said of Weaver. "He's a different type of pitcher. It was good for me to go out and struggle a little bit and see what he's going to throw me and learn from it."
Bryant added later: "He changes speeds. You think you have him timed up and you're swinging early on it, and the ball moves out of the zone and he's got a good slow curve. He knows how to pitch. He moves the ball in and out, up and down. He's there for a reason. I enjoyed facing him. I enjoyed the struggle. You got to embrace the struggle when you are going through it, and I learned from it."
