It’s been 42 days since Kris Bryant last stepped foot on Wrigley Field after the beloved Cub was traded to the Giants on July 30.
This homecoming was special, that’s for sure. The Cubs deemed it “Kris Bryant Day” on Friday when Bryant returned to the friendly confines. The crowd was full of number 17 jerseys and posters with messages welcoming Bryant back.
“This place is home for me,” Bryant said, via the Chicago’s Tribune Paul Sullivan. “It always will be.”
Before the game, the Cubs played a tribute video about Bryant, showcasing his major highlights as a Cub from starting his first game back in 2015, to winning the World Series in 2016, to some of his last games in 2021 as a Cub.
Forever a Cub 💙 pic.twitter.com/kQi4TdK8jG
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 10, 2021
Marquee Network, the home channel for the Cubs, showed a split screen of the highlight video and Bryant’s reaction. As the video started scrolling through some photos of Bryant with his former team, he wiped away tears behind his sunglasses.
Following the video, Bryant took to the field as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. He was awarded with a 17 from Wrigley’s famous scoreboard and a 2016 pennant flag. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, along with Jason McLeod and Crane Kenny handed the items to Bryant as manager David Ross and President Jed Hoyer are still in quarantine due to testing positive for COVID.
Kris Bryant gets a standing ovation at Wrigley 👏💙
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 10, 2021
(via @NBCSGiants)pic.twitter.com/bqS7w6aNQ5
The celebrations didn’t just start on the field. On Thursday, Bryant returned to his infamous Wrigleyville mural and read notes from fans sponsored by Red Bull. Bryant didn’t hold back his emotions there either.
The four-time All-Star also brought his family to Chicago this weekend. His wife, Jessica, made Cubs themed cookies for all the Cubs staff. The note on the bag read “Thank you for being a part of our family for the last 7 years! The Bryant Family.”
Kris Bryant’s wife made these for all the staff at Wrigley. ITS JUST DIFFERENT HERE. @DOM_Frederic @KrisBryant_23 pic.twitter.com/9RbWnNGSsl
— Big Hoss (@Big_Hoss98) September 10, 2021
Bryant’s Giants will compete against the Cubs all weekend, where Bryant will surely be celebrated throughout his time back in Chicago.