There was a scary moment Sunday in Coors Field just minutes into the game. Cubs star third baseman Kris Bryant was hit in the head with a 96 miles-per-hour fastball from Rockies pitcher German Marquez.
Bryant was obviously immediately tended to by Cubs coaching and training staff members. He appeared pretty well shaken up as he was helped off the field.
The Cubs have relayed the following update:
The big-picture concern here is for the well-being of Bryant, one of baseball's best and most marketable players. His personal health matters far more than baseball. It sounds like he dodged a bullet if he doesn't have a concussion.
In the near-term, rookie David Bote will likely take over at third base for Bryant. Tommy La Stella is also an option and once Ben Zobrist comes off the disabled list, the Cubs could move Javier Baez to third base as well. They have depth in spades.
In the long-term, losing Bryant -- or getting him back in a compromised state -- is a severe blow to the Cubs. He's hitting .319/.467/.536 this season and has improved his game to the point that he has more walks than strikeouts. He's an MVP and one of the 10 or so best players in baseball.
It sounds like the Cubs don't have to worry about the long-term implications, though, assuming Bryant did avoid a concussion.