(Left to right): Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort, general manager Bill Schmidt, manager Bud Black, new Rockie Kris Bryant and Bryant's agent Scott Boras talk with reporters on Friday, March 18, 2022 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo courtesy Colorado Rockies)
The Kris Bryant era has begun for the Colorado Rockies.
The organization introduced Bryant at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday after he agreed to a seven-year, $182 million contract this week.
Bryant, 30, said he is excited to join the Rockies, whom he believes "are so often overlooked in terms of the players they have here, the pitching staff. I don't think I've ever had a comfortable at-bat facing the Colorado Rockies."
"Colorado definitely fits my personality," Bryant said. "I love the spot. It's always been a big favorite of mine and my family. I'm looking forward to raising my family there and winning a lot of game with the Rockies."
"Getting to this point in your career where you get to choose where you want to go is a huge blessing and something I don't take lightly. I want to be that veteran presence for the guys here and hopefully they can lean on me for advice in big games. I'm looking forward to a full seven years here."
Bryant, who won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, believes the Rockies have what it takes to be a team that regularly make the playoffs and win it all.
"Of course. I see this as being here for seven years and a lot of growth and opportunity to get there and win a World Series. I take a lot of pride in the fact that I've never played on a losing team in the Big Leagues and I don't plan on doing that."
"He chose us, which is a great thing," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "He wanted to be a Rockie. I'm sure he had multiple, multiple offers but I really like the fact that he wanted to be here."
Bryant played 93 games for the Cubs last year before Chicago traded him to San Francisco at the trade deadline. Overall, in 144 games, he hit 25 home runs and drove in 73 runs. He added 32 doubles and two triples and made the All-Star team for the fourth time in his career.
The Cubs selected Bryant second overall out of the University of San Diego in 2013. He was the National League MVP in 2016 when he hit .292 with 39 home runs and 102 RBIs.
Bryant is a four-time National League All-Star.
Click on the picture below to watch the full press conference.