Kris Bryant
A sweet-swinging slugger whose arrival signaled a new era for the Chicago Cubs, culminating in a historic World Series championship.
Born 1992 (age 34)·American baseball player·Birthday: January 4·Millennials
Biography
Kris Bryant, the Las Vegas-born infielder and outfielder, entered professional baseball with almost impossible hype. Drafted second overall by the Chicago Cubs in 2013, he was viewed as the cornerstone of a franchise desperate to end a century of disappointment. Bryant lived up to every expectation, winning the National League Rookie of the Year in 2015 and the MVP award the very next season. His powerful, disciplined swing and versatile defense were central to the Cubs' identity. In 2016, he was the emotional and statistical engine of the team that finally won the World Series, ending a 108-year drought. While injuries later slowed his trajectory, his peak years in Chicago represent one of the most impactful and storybook arrivals in modern baseball history.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kris was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Kris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the National League Most Valuable Player in 2016 after leading the league in runs scored and WAR.
- Won the 2016 World Series with the Chicago Cubs, breaking the franchise's 108-year championship drought.
- Unanimously selected as the National League Rookie of the Year in 2015.
- Earned four MLB All-Star selections (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021).
- Won the Golden Spikes Award in 2013 as the best amateur baseball player in the United States.
Did You Know?
His father, Mike Bryant, was a minor league baseball player who became his primary hitting coach growing up.
He and his wife, Jessica, have a son named Kyler, whose name is a portmanteau of 'Kris' and 'Tyler' (Jessica's middle name).
He played college baseball for the University of San Diego, not a traditional baseball powerhouse.
He is one of only a handful of players to win a Golden Spikes Award, a Rookie of the Year award, an MVP, and a World Series.
“I just try to have good at-bats. That's really my only goal every time I step in the box.”
