WATCH: Former Cub Kris Bryant Recalls Receiving Death Threats

This past week, the Chicago Cubs opened the Wrigley portion of their 2024 schedule with three games against the Colorado Rockies. That means former Cubs Rookie of the Year, All-Star, and MVP Kris Bryant made another return to Chicago. As always, the fans gave him a standing ovation in his first at-bat.

On Wednesday night, in the cold and rain (almost sleet), Bryant collected his first two hits of the year and nearly helped the Rockies stun the Cubs late. But the offense answered at the bottom of the eighth, and the Cubs got the win and the sweep.

Friday, the Rockies began their home portion of the schedule. Bryant welcomed the fans back to Coors Field by launching his first home run of the year. In his last two games, he has had three big hits leading to three RBIs, which is a welcoming turnaround for his season.

Kris Bryant signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies in 2022. Colorado is a much different market than Chicago - the lights aren't as bright, and the expectations aren't as high. That's not a knock at the Rockies; it's just how it is. Bryant needed a place like that to be close to his family and play the game he's learning to love again.

Of course, anytime someone signs a big contract like Bryant's, expectations come with it. It hasn't been the easiest go for him in Colorado just yet. After the game concluded, he talked to the media about how he understood that, but all he could do was keep going. He added much more detail and insight as to what it's like being a ball player today.

Kris Bryant Talks About Past Death Threats But Encourages Keeping Going

The internet and social media were probably created with the best of intentions. But we all know how toxic a place they can be. Some people out there have motives other than positively connecting with others. No one probably knows that more than star celebrities and athletes, including Kris Bryant.

Bryant opened up to the Colorado media about receiving death threats and calls for him to kill himself during his playing career. He says he talks to the young guys on his team about it but reminds them it takes courage to keep showing up. Bryant was asked if he received those threats specifically during his time with the Rockies, but says he cannot recall specifically because he deletes his social media during regular-season play. However, he knows those comments are out there and exist.

Implications are many of these things he's talking about came before he was in Colorado. Unfortunately, he was only in San Francisco for a couple of months, so a lot of this has many thinking of Chicago. In seven seasons with the Cubs, Bryant posted a .279 average, 160 home runs, a Rookie of the Year, four All-Star appearances, an MVP, and a World Series championship.

It's beyond unfortunate, but no one is safe from this sort of repugnant behavior—not even the best humans in the world. Kris Bryant may be one of them. He always tells the truth and opens himself up about how he's feeling. He has never said a bad word about a teammate or situation he is in, even when he's had every right to. There are not many who can match the quality of person Bryant is, and he, of all people, does not deserve anything like this.