Apr 14, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Kris Bryant (23) receives a greeting from third base coach Warren Schaeffer (34) after hitting a solo-home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
SEATTLE — Kris Bryant is starting his second season with the Colorado Rockies, but he certainly already understands the perception about his statistics and playing at altitude.
Bryant slugged his first home run of the 2023 season on Friday night in Colorado’s 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners here at T-Mobile Park. After logging five homers in 2022 in just 42 games played because of back and foot injuries, Bryant broke through his early-season long ball drought with a first-inning shot against Seattle starter Tommy Milone.
KBOOM 💥 pic.twitter.com/9VnoefRucS
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 15, 2023
Friday’s home run joined the five he hit last season with a common theme: all of them came away from Coors Field. In his 55 games in a Colorado Rockies uniform, Bryant has yet to hit one over the fence in the much-discussed thin air in Denver.
Kris Bryant has the line of the night about playing for the Colorado Rockies
With Bryant’s home runs all coming away from Coors Field over the last two seasons, the 31-year-old outfielder was once again asked after the game on Friday night about his lack of home runs in Denver while playing for the Rockies. Does the fact that he has yet to connect for a homer at Coors Field weigh on him? Bryant fired back, feeding a perfect line to those who have discounted statistics for Rockies players for years.
“Honestly, I’d rather hit them on the road because you don’t get any credit when you hit them at home,” Bryant said as he smiled.
Certainly Bryant was being facetious with his comment, but he also is well aware of the narrative about hitting in Denver versus every other MLB city. He’s also aware that there is plenty of pressure on him to produce, at home and on the road, after signing a seven-year deal to help anchor the Colorado lineup for the near future.