Rockies' Kris Bryant Not Considering MLB Retirement amid Back Injury

Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant is not considering retirement despite a back ailment that has placed him on the injured list, marking his ninth IL stint since 2022.

“I want to be on the field. I want to play the game,” Bryant told reporters Sunday at his Coors Field locker, per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “I want to talk to doctors, see if there’s anything else we can do. But I’m not gonna give up.”

Bryant has played just 11 games this season and none since April 12. He was placed on the injured list on April 13 due to lumbar degenerative disk disease. Beth Harris of the Associated Press provided more information regarding the issue.

"Degenerative disk disease involves the breakdown and deterioration of the spinal disks, which act as cushions between the vertebrae," Harris wrote.

"It’s a natural part of aging, but can also be accelerated by injury, overuse, and lifestyle choices. While DDD itself isn’t a disease, the resulting disk degeneration can lead to pain, nerve compression, and other symptoms."

Bryant has dealt with numerous injuries since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies in 2022. He's played in just 170 total games since then and never more than 80 in a single season (2023).

Bryant was once one of the game's brightest stars. The four-time All-Star shined brightest in 2016, when he helped lead the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series victory in 108 years. Bryant won the National League MVP award that season and hit .308 in the playoffs (.923 OPS) with three homers and eight RBI. During the regular season, Bryant scored a National League-leading 121 runs to go along with 39 homers and 102 RBI. He'll forever be a legend in Chicago for his efforts on the North Side.

Bryant's career in town ended as the Cubs broke up the core from that 2016 team earlier this decade. He was eventually traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2021 before signing with the Rockies in 2022.

Bryant has dealt with various ailments since then, but back issues have been at the forefont.

"Back issues have been persistent for Bryant, who served two separate stints on the IL last season with a back strain; Bryant also missed nearly two months with back issues in 2022," Jared Greenspan and Andrés Soto of MLB.com noted.

Unfortunately, the back issues seem fairly serious at this point. Per Saunders, Bryant said he wakes up on some days barely being able to move, calling it "extremely frustrating. When asked about the potential of back surgery, Bryant said "the doctors aren’t there yet" before adding:

“A back surgery is a pretty big surgery,” Bryant noted, per Saunders. “Obviously, I’m not an expert on it. Maybe I should be by now, with all the problems I’ve had. I want to see all my options, too … so that I’m not, like, in constant pain and nauseous, where I can’t eat, which was the situation today. I just woke up not feeling great, so it’s just extremely frustrating.”

Bryant hasn't been able to experience a prolonged stretch away from the IL for years, and the light doesn't seem to be at the end of the tunnel right now. It's ultimately quite cruel for Bryant, a once-great player whose career has been curtailed by injuries but clearly wants to be back out there and performing up to his tremendous capabilities.

Hopefully Bryant finds some answers soon and is able to finally enjoy a string of good health that he sorely deserves.