Kris Bryant DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Colorado Rockies third baseman Kris Bryant (back) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday, retroactive April 13. Rockies manager Bud Black said he expects Bryant to only require the minimum stint on the injured list. Bryant is dealing with lumbar degenerative disc disease, which does sound serious. The organization believes it's something he'll need to manage, but he can continue his playing career. Bryant has been a non-factor in terms of fantasy baseball since signing with the Rockies in 2022. He can remain on the waiver wire in basically all fantasy formats, but hopefully Bryant can resume playing at some point this season. The expectation is Kyle Farmer will see more playing time with Bryant sidelined.

After a 17-2 drubbing on Wednesday night by the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and designated hitter Kris Bryant will get the day off for Thursday's series finale at Coors Field. Catcher Hunter Goodman is also getting the day off. Kyle Farmer will start at short and bat third, Nick Martini will serve as the DH and hit fifth, and Jacob Stalling will do the catching and bat in the nine-hole against Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester. Stallings is the only one of the replacements that has faced Priester in his career, and he has one hit in just two at-bats. This will be Tovar's first day off of the 2025 season. He's started the year by going 13-for-47 (.277) but has yet to go deep in 49 plate appearances. Bryant, a former MVP back in 2016, has stayed healthy, but he's gone just 6-for-31 with no homers, two walks and 10 strikeouts in eight games played.

According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Colorado Rockies have focused on ensuring that outfielder Kris Bryant remains healthy during the 2025 season. During the offseason, Bryant focused on improving his flexibility and core strength. Harding noted that the team is exploring several ways to limit his activity, including only putting him in the outfield when on the road and not at home, given Coors Field's dimensions. As a result, Bryant will likely be penciled in as the team's DH when at home. Since joining the Rockies in 2022, the former NL MVP has only logged a high of 80 games during the 2023 season. During 2022 and 2024, Bryant logged 42 games or less. Last season, he battled back and oblique injuries. In addition, with Bryant likely shifting to a part-time DH role, Harding noted that this could open a path for outfield prospect Zac Veen to reach the majors sooner than expected. In his limited stint last season, Bryant held a .218/.323/.301 line with just two home runs. Given his extensive injury history, he should only be targeted in deeper NL-only formats.

Colorado Rockies outfielder/designated hitter Kris Bryant (back) said he is doing well while recovering from back injuries that have limited him to 159 games since he signed with the team before the 2022 season. All checkups on Bryant this offseason have gone well, according to the Rockies. "He's doing good," general manager Bill Schmidt said. "From my understanding, he really hasn't shut down since the end of the season. He's working out. He's swinging the bat." Over his three seasons in Colorado, Bryant has produced a minus-1.3 fWAR, which tied him for 2,069th among major-league players in that span. The Rockies plan to use him as their DH and right fielder in 2025 if he can stay healthy. He could also play first base, but Michael Toglia could play there full time. The 32-year-old only played in 37 games in 2024 and hit .218 with a 31% strikeout rate. Bryant's fantasy stock has plummeted the last few years.

Colorado Rockies first baseman Kris Bryant (back) is "probably not real close" to returning this season, according to manager Bud Black. The skipper went on to say that, "as each day goes on, it's becoming increasingly possible that Kris' season may be over." Bryant has been doing back exercises in hopes he can return to baseball activities and finish off the season with the Rockies, but it doesn't appear that there's a good chance of that. The 32-year-old has been the source of much frustration for Rockies fans and fantasy managers alike, as his tenure with Colorado has been injury-riddled; he's played in only 159 games for the Rockies since signing in 2022. His production at the plate when healthy has also subsided over the past couple years, as he's hit for just a .663 OPS in the last two seasons, well below his career .855 OPS. Fantasy managers that haven't already cut bait should do so now, as Bryant won't have any further impact in 2024. Those in dynasty leagues that are worried about Bryant's future may want to consider Michael Toglia, whose .363 xwOBA ranks in the 90th percentile and has helped him carve out an everyday starting job at first base for the Rockies.