Rockies' Kris Bryant, working to overcome disc problems in lower back, takes step toward return

On a day when Kris Bryant took a small step toward returning to the lineup, the veteran first baseman/outfielder talked in-depth for the first time Wednesday about the nature of the back injury that has haunted him since signing with the Rockies before the 2022 season. Bryant exacerbated his back problem on April 13 when he crashed into the outfield wall in Toronto while making a catch in the first inning. Bryant, who signed a seven-year, $182 million free-agent contract with the Rockies before the 2022 season, acknowledged that he has disc and arthritis problems in his lower back. “I guess it's hard to speak on because I'm not a doctor, but the discs in my back are pretty much dried up, so there's a couple of discs that  … they don't function like they did 10 years ago,” Bryant said.