According to many fans, the Chicago Cubs and Kris Bryant did not end on good terms. And this was because of how the Cubs handled Kris Bryant and his promotion to the major leagues when he started off. But it looks like it’s only the fans that are still questioning the move because Bryant has jumped ship.

In a recent episode of the Lovable Reunion, he talked about how the service time grievance with the Cubs has been blown way out of proportion. The former Cubs star said, “I got nothing but respect for Theo and Jed and for everyone involved. If I were in their position, I would’ve done the same thing … I love how they treated me, my whole time there.”

Kris Bryant was drafted by the Cubs with the second pick in 2013 and looked ready for MLB. He hit very well in the minors and also hit nine home runs in 2015 spring training.

Still, the Cubs sent him to Triple-A in 2015 even when fans felt he was ready. They called him up later but he finished with 171 service days, just one short of 172. That one day changed when he could become a free agent by one full year.

This decision by Jed Hoyer led to a big debate about why Bryant was kept in the minors. Many felt it was done so the team could get one extra year of control over him.

Bryant was playing well in spring games, so fans questioned the timing of the move. The gap of just one day became the center of the whole discussion. Bryant later said he respected the Cubs front office and understood their choice.

This issue became known as service time manipulation in MLB. It means teams can delay calling up players to keep them longer before free agency. Bryant became the main example because his case was so clear and close.

He filed a grievance but lost after a long wait of more than four years. The ruling meant the Chicago Cubs did not lose any control over his contract timeline. Bryant said, “I’m interested to see how this plays out. Hopefully it doesn’t lead to worse behavior where they’re hiding a guy down for four months just to deny him, but all that is yet to be seen.”

Because of this, Bryant’s case became very important in CBA talks. The players’ union used his situation during new contract talks with the league. New rules were added to give young players better rewards and protection. These changes included bonus money and help for top rookie award finishers.

Bryant said it helped future players even though it did not help his own case.

In the end, the Cubs kept their control, and Kris Bryant accepted how things played out. Fans still talk about that 2015 decision and how close it was to full-service time.

His case became a clear example of how one day can change a player’s future. The league changed some rules after that, but the debate still continues today.

Kris Bryant talks about the 2016 Cubs World Series win

Just a year after all the problems with his game time, the Chicago Cubs and Kris Bryant won the World Series. And now he has made some revelations about the 2016 postseason run.

The Chicago Cubs were down 3-1 after four games in the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. They lost Game 4 by a 7-2 score and were one loss away from elimination. No team had come back from 3-1 in a World Series since 1985.

The Cubs were also chasing their first title since 1908, a 108-year wait. That made Game 5 a must-win, with everything on the line that night.

Years later, Kris Bryant spoke about this moment on a podcast with Anthony Rizzo and David Ross.

Bryant said, “Probably Game 5, like the homer,” while talking about that game.

He shared what happened that morning, saying he was at the hospital early that day. He said he reached there around 5 AM and stayed until about 7 AM. That game later ended in a 3-2 win for Chicago, keeping the series alive.

Kris Bryant said, “My Mom was sick,” and that is why he went to the E.R.

He stayed there for around two hours before heading back for the game. Bryant also said, “We’re down 3-1, it’s gonna be really hard,” showing his mindset. He added that he got only six to seven hours of sleep that night. He usually tries to get nine hours, which made that day even harder for him.

Later that night, Bryant hit a home run in a game the Cubs won 3-2. That win forced a Game 6, where Chicago won 9-3 to push the series further. Game 7 then ended 8-7 in ten innings, sealing the title for Chicago. That win ended their 108-year title drought in one of the closest Game 7 results.

Bryant said it was the “biggest home run of my life,” and it came at the right time.