Kris Bryant to Open MLB Season on IL, How Many Games Has He Missed Since $182M Rockies Contract?

The Colorado Rockies placed Kris Bryant on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, ensuring that he'll be absent for the start of the 2026 season.

Bryant has missed 478 games since he signed a seven-year contract worth $182 million with the Rockies in 2022, suiting up in a mere 170 of a possible 648 contests.

His last regular-season appearance came in April 2025.

Bryant has been out ever since due to lumbar degenerative disc disease in his back.

He underwent a procedure to address the issue in May 2025, but revealed that he was still being bothered by his back during the offseason.

"It's not in the best shape, and that's pretty disheartening for me," Bryant told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post in Nov. 2025. "It's exhausting for me waking up and hoping to feel (better). I can't tell you the last time I woke up feeling I'm in a good spot."

"If you asked me two or three months ago, I would say (my back pain) was not affecting my everyday life," he added. "But now it is, which is really annoying to me because usually when you kind of just rest, it's supposed to get better. So maybe I'm at a point where I should just do a bunch of stuff to see if that helps me."

Bryant opened his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 before receiving the NL MVP Award the following year.

He earned four All-Star nods during his tenure on the Cubs, helping them capture their 2016 World Series title.

Bryant hasn't been as effective in Colorado while dealing with availability issues, compiling a .244/.324/.370 slash line with the team. He's also recorded just 17 home runs across his 170 appearances as a member of the Rockies.

With Bryant out, the Rockies will rely on catcher Hunter Goodman and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar to headline their lineup in 2026.