Bryant said Saturday in an interview with Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that he continues to experience daily pain and discomfort while recovering from lumbar degenerative disc disease, but the 33-year-old said that he's not yet considering retirement. "[The back is] not in the best shape, and that's pretty disheartening for me," Bryant said. "It's exhausting for me waking up and hoping to feel [better]. I can't tell you the last time I woke up feeling I'm in a good spot."
Bryant spent nearly all of the 2025 campaign on the shelf after he underwent an ablation operation in May to address his back condition, but the procedure hasn't yielded the desired effect. Though Bryant noted that he hasn't felt any pain while swinging a bat, straight-line running as well as quick, unorthodox movements such as diving for a grounder or retreating to first base on a pickoff attempt are still presenting discomfort. Bryant said that he's continuing to treat his injury during the offseason by doing Pilates three times a week with the hope of strengthening his core and providing some relief for his lower back, but if he's still dealing with substantial pain by the time spring training arrives, it's possible that Bryant and the Rockies more seriously discuss a financial arrangement that would allow him to medically retire. Since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract in March of 2022, Bryant has played in 170 games over his four seasons with the Rockies and has struggled to a .244/.324/.370 slash line (82 wRC+) with 17 home runs and 61 RBI across 712 plate appearances.
Bryant (back) is not expected to play again this season, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Bryant played in 11 games to begin the season, but a degenerative disc issue in his back has sidelined him ever since, as he remains on the 60-day IL. Last month, Bryant was reportedly exploring experimental treatments to correct the issue, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. It's unclear what path Bryant will choose for treatment, but his 2025 season appears to be over after slashing a miserable .154/.195/.205 with two doubles, one RBI, two runs scored and a 2:13 BB:K across 41 plate appearances. Since signing a seven-year, $182 million deal ahead of the 2022 season, Bryant has played in just 170 games for Colorado, registering a .244/.324/.370 slash line with 17 home runs, 61 RBI, 75 runs scored and a 61:156 BB:K over 712 plate appearances. He'll turn 34 years old in January.
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Exploring treatment plans for back
Rotowire
Bryant (back) said that he will consult with a doctor over the phone Monday before visiting another specialist in Dallas soon thereafter to try "experimental treatments" for his degenerative disk disease, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Bryant said that he's been able to work out and do light hitting, but his back continues to respond poorly when he's attempted to run since getting an ablation procedure May 8. According to Bryant, the only other surgical method for his back would be a fusion procedure that would make it difficult to continue his playing career, so he's understandably looking into alternative treatment plans that would improve his chances of getting back on the field this season. Since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies in March 2022, Bryant has played in just 128 of Colorado's 414 games while batting .244 with 17 home runs, 75 runs and 61 RBI over 712 plate appearances.
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Rockies' Kris Bryant: Feeling soreness after running
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Bryant (back) acknowledged June 11 that he still experiences discomfort while running during his rehab program, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. "I'm just being completely honest. When I do run, I am sore -- not just sore, but hurting. We've determined to keep trying and see if it continues, if it improves. That's where I'm at," Bryant said. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking that some days I see light at the end of the tunnel, some days I don't."
Colorado placed Bryant on the injured list April 14 due to lumbar degenerative disc disease before he underwent an ablation procedure May 8 to combat the injury. He was able to play catch June 10 and then began taking dry swings in addition to light running June 11, but the latter activity proved to be the most difficult for him. In the three weeks since then, the Rockies haven't provided an official update on Bryant's status, but he's presumably a long ways off from heading out on a rehab assignment, much less returning from the 60-day IL. His absence appears likely to extend well past the All-Star break.
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Rockies' Kris Bryant: Plays catch
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Bryant (back) played catch on the field prior to Tuesday's game against the Giants, MLB.com reports.
Bryant has been sidelined since April 12 and has made minimal progress since an ablation procedure May 8. There is no timeline for his return.
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Rockies' Kris Bryant: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Rockies transferred Bryant (back) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
The move comes just a few days after the Rockies announced that Bryant underwent a successful ablation procedure to address his chronically bothersome back. The 33-year-old is without a timeline to resume baseball activities, but given the nature of his surgery as well as his placement on the 60-day IL, he'll most likely remain sidelined at least through the end of June. Since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies in March 2022, Bryant has had nine separate stints on the IL and has slashed just .244/.324/.370 over 712 total plate appearances.
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Rockies' Kris Bryant: Undergoes successful surgery
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Bryant successfully underwent ablation surgery on his back Thursday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.
Bryant will rest for the next 72 hours, and he's expected to return to Denver next weekend to start building strength in his back. He'll likely need several weeks to recover from the procedure and is without a timeline for a return. Bryant played just 11 games before landing on the injured list in mid-April, going 6-for-39 with one RBI and a 31.7 percent strikeout rate.
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Rockies' Kris Bryant: Due for surgery
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Bryant (back) will undergo an ablation procedure Thursday to help aid in his recovery from a lumbar degenerative disc disease, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
An updated return timeline will likely come out after Bryant goes under the knife, though he will presumably need several weeks to recover before starting up his rehab. The 33-year-old has been on the injured list since mid-April and was slashing just .154/.195/.205 when healthy.
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Rockies' Kris Bryant: Having follow-up scans on back
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Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said that Bryant (back) visited with Dr. Robert Watkins on Monday and will undergo follow-up scans, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
The results of that imaging will determine the next steps for Bryant's rehab. Bryant was placed on the 10-day injured list in mid-April and subsequently diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disc disease. The 33-year-old has managed just a .400 OPS over 41 plate appearances in 11 games this season.
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Rockies' Kris Bryant: Activation not imminent
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Bryant (back) didn't join the Rockies for its three-game road trip in Kansas City that began Tuesday and is continuing to receive treatment in Denver, MLB.com reports.
Bryant is eligible to be activated from the 10-day injured list this week, but with his back pain still persisting, it's unclear when he might be ready to return to game action. The Rockies have deployed the 33-year-old exclusively at designated hitter so far this season with the hope that it would help him maintain health, but the gambit hasn't paid off so far. He produced a lowly .400 OPS over 41 plate appearances in 11 games before landing on the IL on April 14 due to lumbar degenerative disc disease.
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Recovering from back injections
Rotowire
Bryant said Sunday that he recently received a couple injections to relieve inflammation in his back, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
The 33-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list last Monday after being diagnosed with a lumbar degenerative disc disease, but he was initially expected to return after a minimum-length stay on the shelf. However, Bryant said Sunday that he could "barely move and felt nauseated" after going through exercises Saturday, so it wouldn't be surprising if he's not activated Wednesday when first eligible.
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Rockies' Kris Bryant: Expected back when first eligible
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Rockies manager Bud Black said Monday that he expects Bryant (back) to return when first eligible April 23, Andres Soto of MLB.com reports.
Bryant was diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disc disease, the latest in a series of back problems for the 33-year-old. Black indicated when Bryant was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier this week that it's an injury the designated hitter is just going to have to manage moving forward. Bryant has just a .400 OPS and 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 11 games with the Rockies this season.
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