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Big League Weekend brings native Cubs player, manager back to Las Vegas

Posted at 9:17 AM, Mar 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-08 13:13:09-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — As the Reds dominated the Cubs in an 8-5 victory on the first day of Big League Weekend, two people familiar with Las Vegas were on the field trying to rally the Cubs back into contention.

Las Vegas native Kris Bryant now plays third base for the Chicago Cubs, but began honing his skills at Bonanza High School.

Bryant was selected second overall in the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.

New Cubs Manager David Ross also spent time in the Mohave Desert playing for the precursor to the Las Vegas Aviators, the Las Vegas 51s, before getting called up to the Major leagues in the early 2000s.

"I remember being down the left field line and getting the news from my manager that I was going to the big leagues," Ross said. "It was a special moment for me."

Ross reminisced about avoiding The Strip's high-priced drinks while working on a minor league player's salary, and marveled at the newly constructed Las Vegas Ballpark.

"This place here, beautiful," he said. "The facilities inside, it's almost big league. Other than the extra decks this place is pretty special."

The Cubs and Reds play again Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m.

The first game reached capacity with a crowd of 10,385.