Levine: Kris Bryant Won't Be Distracted By Service Time Issue

By Bruce Levine-

MESA, Ariz. (CBS) -- Although Cubs position players don't have to report until next Tuesday, spring training  has already begun for top prospect Kris Bryant.

While the 23-year-old third baseman is excited, he insists this next month-plus won't be an exercise marred by distractions about making the team out of spring training. It's not a question of Bryant's talent but rather one of service time -- if the Cubs wait, they can pick up an extra year of contract control on the back end of his deal.

"I have a pretty good opportunity in front of me," Bryant said. "I think I am more excited about this season than any seasons in the past. I am excited to to get to play baseball again, hear the crack of the bat, take some ground balls and  have some fun with my friends."

Bryant is all about the simplistic approach to the game he loves. He may be the All-American type, but he's far from being detached from the reality of expectations that await him when he makes his big league debut.

Bryant has dominated the competition at every minor league level, after already being named the top player in the college ranks during the 2013 season.

"I really think I have stumbled at every level," Bryant said. "There have been some 10-day periods where things were not going my way. I have made it a goal of mine to minimize those slumps. I think I did a good job of that and I am here to build off of that."

Bryant's work habits are off the chart, according to scouts from other teams who have seen him work early on game days.

"Before his teammates took batting practice, I saw him working on his fielding and throwing three straight days last July," an AL scout said. "He was trying to get as low to the ground as possible and make the routine and difficult plays as part of the drill. I could not be more impressed. I put the highest number on him as for my report went back to my club. The last time I put an eight rating (the highest mark you can use on the 1-8 scouting rating system) on a player was Joe Mauer in 2000."

The impressive way Bryant talks to people with humility and respect was part of the reason that the Cubs were drawn to him. When they made Bryant the second pick in the amateur draft of 2013, Chicago believed he would be in the major leagues quickly.

Now with service time already an issue, Bryant emphasized he won't be distracted by talk of his likely return to the minor leagues in April. His goal is simply to perform well and make the decision hard on the front office.

"We have a pretty good grasp of what's going on, but I don t make those decisions," Bryant said. "I make the decisions on the field for me and how hard I play. That is all I can control."

Agent Scott Boras is famous for having his star players not sign contracts until they are fully vested free agents. Thus, by waiting until May to call up Bryant, the Cubs can retain him for an extra year -- through 2021 -- before he hits a fully vested six years in the majors.

Contractually, a year of service time is 172 days, and there's often around 183 days in the big league calendar, according to fangraphs.com. Anything less than the six years-times-172 factor for Bryant would give the Cubs an extra year of contract control before free agent eligibility kicks in.

Last season, Bryant hit .325  with 43 homers and 110 RBIs in time split between Double-A and Triple-A. He had 78 extra-base hits and 325 total bases in 138 games.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.