Adidas has announced a new multiyear extension with 2016 National League MVP of the Chicago Cubs, Kris Bryant. Bryant will continue his leading role in brand marketing campaigns as well as collaborations on future baseball cleats and accessories.
"It's a phenomenal time to be partnered with adidas with all the energy and momentum that the brand has right now," said Bryant. "Adidas embraced me as part of the family from the start. It's been a great collaboration and we share a vision for creating the future."
"Kris Bryant is an incredible player," said Mark King, adidas Group North America president.
"What I love about him is just how humble and appreciative he is to be playing the game of baseball. In so many ways, he's just a regular kid who loves talking about little league games and hitting homeruns off his dad. There are a lot of people with talent out there, but they don't hit 26 homeruns as a rookie, become MVP and lead their team to a World Series win after a more than 100-year drought.
Kris is creating history right before our eyes and what sets him apart is his love of the game and mindset. Yes, there's pressure he feels, but for him it's fun and enjoyable and he believes he can accomplish great things. His expectation is far greater than anything anyone else can put on him and he's only at the beginning of his career. We're so proud to call Kris part of our family. He is the future of baseball."
It was a no-brainer for Adidas to lock up Bryant for the long term, considering in just four consecutive years, he became the first player in history to win College Player of the Year, Minor League Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and National League MVP in successive seasons. Not to mention, helping break Chicago's 108 year World Series curse.