Levine: Bryant The Talk Of The Baseball World

By Bruce Levine--

MESA, Ariz. (CBS) -- The baseball world has turned its focus to Chicago Cubs spring training camp and home run-happy Kris Bryant, the 23-year-old long ball hitter who has been on fire as of late, hitting four home runs in his last three games. Bryant has six home runs in 20 at-bats during Cactus League play to lead all spring hitters.

The friendly and approachable Bryant is a refreshing young player who's both confident and respectful of the game at the same time.

"I like hitting home runs as long as that is a part of us winning," he said. "I am just a positive person. I am fortunate to be playing a game for a living. This is fun, I get to play baseball every day. I am not going to take myself too seriously. I am going to go out there and have fun. A big part of the game is mental, you have to pretend you're going out there and playing whiffle ball in the street."

The work that Bryant has puts in belies that "aw shucks, this game is easy" attitude that makes Bryant so refreshing to deal with.

"I put an eight on him," said a veteran scout who watched Bryant play 10 times last summer. "I have only put an eight on one other minor league player in my career (scouts rate players on a 2-8 scale according to baseball skills and makeup). Joe Mauer had the same work habits and results that this young man has. I watched him come out three hours before the game and have a coach hit him ground balls every game I scouted him. He will not disappoint the Chicago fans. This player can be special."

Bryant has learned to pace himself, knowing the long season is something new after playing 60 games in college.

"Hard work never has hurt me," Bryant said. "You do have to kick back and save some energy. I see where some work can be over the top. What I have learned is to be diligent about practice and focus on what you're trying to accomplish. When you get to that breaking point where you are not learning and repeating important drills, you need to take a step back."

Bryant has easy power from a natural swing with little lower body movement, and he wants to work mostly on better plate control this spring.

"I want to lay off some of those inside pitches," he said. "Some of those pitches on my hands look good to hit but really aren't. That is something I need to get done here. I really want to make the pitcher work and throw it over the plate. Even guys throwing 95 mph can't throw it perfectly three times in a row. That is when I hope to be ready to react."

Bryant has reacted perfectly in six of his 20 at-bats so far this spring.

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