Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has become known for his easy-going demeanor on and off the field, which made his ejection from Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox even more surprising.
The reigning National League MVP was tossed from the game by home plate umpire Lance Barksdale after arguing a strike three call in the fourth inning of the contest. The ejection was the first of Bryant’s career, and he wasn’t expecting such an early exit from the contest.
“I was kind of surprised. It was a disagreement, but I don’t think it was too animated,” he said.
When asked if he had used any profanity during his disagreement with Barksdale, Bryant insisted that he hadn’t, but declined to get into exactly what was said between the two men at home plate.
“It’s frustrating. I know he’s trying to do the best job that he can and I’m doing the best job I can,” he said. “Sometimes there’s really borderline pitches that are really hard to call, but that one I knew for a fact and I knew I had to stick up for myself. I don’t want to be that guy that gets thrown out of games. I want to be a professional on the field, but I have to stick up for myself sometimes.”
Bryant’s ejection didn’t come back to bite the Cubs, as they cruised to a 7-2 victory over their Crosstown rivals to split the first two games of the four-game series between the two teams.
