Bryant is struggling to recover from a chronic back injury: he is going through a tough period.

Kris Bryant of the Colorado Rockies is able to walk but not run, indicating that his return to the field is still a long way off.

Bryant was diagnosed with chronic lumbar degenerative disease. During the first four years of his 7-year, $182 million deal, this injury and other health problems restricted him to only 170 games, just barely over a single season’s total. He will begin the 2026 season on the 60-day injured list.

“The usual recovery process starts with practice and then moves on to running,” Bryant said, “but right now, every time my foot hits the ground, I feel like I might fall.”

The 34-year-old Bryant appeared at the Rockies’ spring training camp today, which was the team’s first full squad workout. However, unlike previous years when he could start the season healthy, this year he will soon return home to Las Vegas to continue his rehab with hope for the future.

All this raises doubts about whether the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year, 2016 NL MVP, and early career World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs can still make it back to the field. He is currently in ongoing discussions with himself, team doctors, and trainers.

“I really don’t have the best answer because there’s no definitive plan yet. I’m just following their advice and guidance, and of course seeing doctors,” Bryant said. “I met with doctors during the offseason to get their input. They relay their opinions to the training staff, and then we decide on the next steps.”

When asked about the doctors’ views on his ability to return to play, Bryant said, “I’m not going to go into detail—I don’t want to say the wrong thing. I haven’t looked at those reports. My focus has been on finding ways to wake up each day with a little less pain than the day before.”

Rockies’ manager Warren Schaeffer, who welcomed a revamped team today under new baseball operations president Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes, has kept in close contact with Bryant and understands his pain.

“There’s really not much to say on this except that the guy’s back hurts, really, really hurts, and his recovery has been very difficult,” Schaeffer said. “We have to prepare for the possibility that he might not play. That’s all we can do, while hoping he recovers and makes progress.”

“You have to realize how hard this is for ‘KB.’ There are all kinds of opinions out there, but for him, not being able to play, wanting to play, wanting to feel good — it’s really tough. It affects his life at home. He wants to be a dad who can play with his kids, but now even bending over is hard.”

As mentioned, Bryant’s contract is fully guaranteed, meaning any adjustments based on his inability to play require negotiation between the team and Bryant. However, there is currently no indication that such discussions are imminent.

Meanwhile, Bryant deliberately avoids thinking about whether returning to the field is still worth it.

“Honestly, I try not to think about that because when you go through this every day, you just try to get through each day,” he said. “Many people living with chronic pain don’t want to think too far ahead because they just want to survive today. So I don’t let myself get caught up in that kind of thinking.”