Cubs' Kris Bryant: 'Good Guys Finish First'

By Bruce Levine--

(CBS) In his MVP season that led the Cubs to a World Series title, third baseman Kris Bryant has made a big difference on and off the field, topping the list in quality of play and human decency.

After being named the National League MVP on Thursday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Bryant was at his best.

"I feel like good guys finish first" Bryant said, turning around the Leo Durocher opinion that "nice guys finish last."

"Going out there and being humble and being a good role model for kids out there is something I strive for. Putting up big numbers are individual goals. I don't ever want to be that person who people say, 'He is too cocky.' I just want to go out there and put smiles on people's faces, win a lot of games along the way. This year was kind of the perfect way to illustrate that."

This isn't meant to exaggerate Bryant's personal qualities just because he plays baseball well, but Bryant backs up his words in everything he does and is role model material. He's handled his rise to stardom with grace.

Bryant has been at the top of every level he has participated in since he was in Little League. He was named Baseball America's College Player of the Year in 2013, when the Cubs took him second overall in the draft. To end his first tune-up in the minors, he garnered MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League in November 2013. He was named the Minor League Player of the Year by multiple outlets and publications in 2014, then won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2015.

Bryant was then a near-unanimous MVP winner, taking 29 of the 30 first-place votes. He became the first player to win that string of awards in baseball history.

"I am not sure all of that will really ever set in," Bryant said. "You do almost forget them as you move on. For me to hear it and think about it, it's amazing to see that I am the first to do that. It is all very humbling, and I am so grateful for all the opportunities along the way."

The 24-year-old Bryant -- who has a busy offseason ahead as he marries his high school sweetheart in January -- isn't satisfied with his accomplishments.

"I will continue to work harder than I have ever done before," Bryant said. "I hopefully can sustain that (level of play). We want to win more World Series, win a lot of games and have more fun along the way."

Bryant is truly a player and person who it's cool to cheer for and admire.

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