Bryant named Southern League player of the week

PITTSBURGH -- For the second straight week and third time this season, Cubs prospect Kris Bryant was named the Southern League player of the week.

Bryant, 22, batted .417 (10-for-24) last week with Double-A Tennessee with seven runs, three doubles, three home runs, five RBIs and six walks. He compiled a .533 on-base percentage and .917 slugging percentage in that stretch.

Bryant hit his 22nd home run on Monday, and leads the league in 10 categories, including the three Triple Crown statistics. He was batting .357 overall with 55 RBIs in 63 games. The second pick overall in last June's First-Year Player Draft, Bryant leads all Minor Leaguers in home runs, extra-base hits (40) and total bases.

Fans may be eager to see Bryant in the big leagues, but Cubs manager Rick Renteria said nobody's asked him about when that might be. Well, almost nobody.

"Where do I hear it? I hear it from you guys," Renteria said of the media. "I hear it more from you guys than anybody else.

"He's continued to develop his skills, continued to gain confidence, I'm sure, and hopefully it continues," Renteria said.