Rockies deny they blocked Kris Bryant from attending 2016 Cubs reunion
A celebration of the Chicago Cubs' historic 2016 World Series championship was overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of one of its core heroes: Kris Bryant. While former teammates like Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, and Javier Báez gathered on stage at the Cubs Convention on Friday, the 2016 NL MVP was nowhere to be found.
Initial reports from 670 The Score suggested Bryant "was not allowed to be there by his team," implying his current club, the Colorado Rockies, had blocked his participation. The claim ignited immediate backlash from fans on social media, painting the Rockies as the villain in a beloved franchise's reunion.
However, the Rockies quickly denied any involvement. "The Rockies have not prevented Kris Bryant from attending any event," a team statement read, as reported by MLB.com and The Denver Post. The clarification has only deepened the mystery, as other active players from different teams, including Schwarber (Phillies) and Báez (Tigers), were present.
Bryant's absence casts a pall over his complicated legacy. As a central figure in ending the Cubs' 108-year championship drought, he remains a franchise icon. Yet his post-Chicago career has been defined by profound struggle. Since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract with Colorado in 2022, Bryant has been plagued by debilitating back injuries, including a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease last May. He has played only 170 games in four seasons, posting underwhelming stats, and has three years and $81 million remaining on a deal now widely panned as one of the worst in baseball history.
The reason for his no-show at the reunion remains unexplained, leaving fans to speculate and adding another layer of melancholy to the career of a former superstar whose future in the game is increasingly uncertain.
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