Kris Bryant has been removed from the Rockies' lineup following his performance of no hits in the first two days.

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Kris Bryant did not alleviate the ongoing concerns surrounding his performance during the first two days of the Colorado Rockies' season, as he enters the fourth year of his seven-year contract. Just three days into the season, he found himself removed from the lineup. In Bud Black's third lineup card of the regular season, Bryant is replaced by Hunter Goodman as the designated hitter. Goodman, who started as catcher in the first two games, will now take on the cleanup role that Bryant held on Friday and Saturday. Jacob Stallings will take over catching duties for the series finale against Tampa Bay. The Rockies maintained the same lineup for their initial two games against the Rays, which they split. Notably, Kris Bryant was the only player who did not reach base, finishing 0-for-8 with three strikeouts. Colorado managed to split the first game thanks to exceptional defense and outstanding starting pitching; however, the Rays' pitchers, along with a strong wind at Steinbrenner Field, effectively subdued the Rockies' offense, limiting them to a .200 batting average over the first two games. Last December, Black emphasized the importance of Bryant's performance, stating, “We need Bryant to be Kris Bryant.”

Unfortunately, Bryant struggled in the Cactus League, posting a .129 batting average and a .566 OPS, and his first two regular-season games did not indicate any improvement. The upcoming game will mark Bryant's 162nd appearance in a Rockies uniform, equivalent to a full season's worth of games. Regrettably for both Bryant and the Rockies, it has taken more than three seasons to reach this milestone due to his persistent injuries since signing the contract.

Throughout his tenure with Colorado, Bryant has not played in even half of the games in any season. Last year, he participated in only 37 games due to ongoing back issues, recording a .218 batting average and a .624 OPS. His Baseball Reference WAR has been negative for the past two seasons, registering at minus-1.0 in 2023 and minus-0.7 the previous year.