Kris Bryant has a hilarious explanation for why he doesn’t do bat flips as a player.
Player celebrations has become a divisive issue recently, especially with some Latin players such as Yasiel Puig in the league and doing well because it presents a culture clash. Many American players don’t do it because they’re taught it’s a sign of disrespect to pitchers and the game in general. Other countries such as Korea and Cuba like their players to celebrate with bat flips because it makes the game more fun.
Here’s why Bryant says he doesn’t do it.
“If it’s halfway up the video board, that’s it, that’s enough of a disgrace for the pitcher that you don’t need to add anything to it,” Bryant told 670 The Score’s Dan Bernstein and Jason Goff during an interview on Tuesday. “You crushed a home run, you felt good about it. He felt bad about it. And it’s good.”
Though Bryant doesn’t bat flip, he doesn’t have a problem with others doing it.
“If you’re watching a home run for a little bit, I don’t know if that’s necessarily showing up the other team, but certain guys play that way and certain pitchers are going to be upset seeing that,” Bryant said. “But I think if you add more of that fun to the game, let guys be themselves — I’ll never do it, I’ll be the same boring Kris that I’ve always been — but if guys are going to do that, I think sometimes we’re a little too sensitive with certain things.
“I’ll never do it because I don’t want to be the guy that thinks it’s gone and it doesn’t go out. Because once you’re that guy, you’re always that guy.”
So if Bryant is quiet and humble and boring, when does he actually talk trash? Only in a few situations.
Kris Bryant says the only trash talking he does is to his wife and brother in board games and cards.
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) April 25, 2017
Purists have to love those comments from the Chicago Cubs slugger. Not only is Bryant a brilliant young player, but he’s also quite humble. The only disappointment from him is that despite having 67 home runs in his brief career, Bryant says he doesn’t have much interest in participating in the Home Run Derby. That’s OK, because he shows his power off enough to fans in games that matter as is.
