Paul Beaty / AP
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, a Bonanza High School graduate, hits an RBI single during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres on Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Chicago. Bryant’s single was his first major league hit.
Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 | 8:57 p.m.
CHICAGO — When the doctor told Matt Lawrence he needed a cancerous kidney removed, and that he wanted to do the procedure in March, Lawrence said, 'No.' He'd already made plans to go to Spring Training to see one of his star pupils, Kris Bryant.
Lawrence had coached Bryant — and also the Nationals' Bryce Harper -- on a Las Vegas travel team when the two were 13, 14 years old. The procedure was rescheduled for May 22, but again, Lawrence had a request. He had to be home by May 25 because the Cubs were playing the Nationals, and he wanted to watch his former players who would be meeting for the first time as Major Leaguers. Lawrence made it.
Bryant, one of the leading candidates for National League Rookie of the Year, and the Cubs are headed to the postseason, facing the Pirates in the Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser on Wednesday, live on TBS at 7 p.m. CT, and the third baseman's former coach will be rooting for him, remembering their games together in Las Vegas.
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