Cubs’ Bryant expects more power after adjustment

Kris Bryant says it was no accident that balls were flying out of Wrigley Field — even off the left-field video board — during his round of batting practice before Saturday’s game. He has made a mechanical adjustment he believes will give him more power than ever.

In an effort to shorten his follow-through and reduce the torque on his strained left shoulder, he’s working to keep two hands on the bat throughout his swing. He points to Anthony Rizzo as a hitter who does this with success and said it was actually trainer PJ Mainville who suggested it to him.

“I started swinging like that (in the cage and off a tee),” Bryant said. “It feels good to me because I play a lot of golf in the offseason. It’s kind of like a golf swing. It feels good. I feel more powerful, feel like I can hit the ball farther.”

He concedes it could feel different to make the adjustment during a game but believes it could be a significant development for him.

“It’s kind of like when I was in college and widened my stance,” Bryant said. “I used to hit straight up my freshman year in college, and then my sophomore year I widened my stance, and that was really a game-changer for me.”

The batting practice display certainly impressed manager Joe Maddon.

“Wow,” he said. “It was coming off (his bat) hot — left-central, hit a couple to right side. Short to the ball, really nice path to the ball. I could just tell by how he was reacting how good he does feel.”

Bryant hit his eighth homer May 14. He has only three in 199 plate appearances since then and has missed 45 of the past 55 games because of the shoulder injury.

Maddon said the best time for a player to make a change is often when he’s coming off an injury, not when he’s having success.

Bryant is expected to take live batting practice Sunday and begin a minor league rehab assignment Monday.

Phil Rogers is a freelance reporter.