Kris Bryant to make major league debut Friday for Cubs after promotion

The highly anticipated Kris Bryant era will start Friday at Wrigley Field.

After a controversial three weeks in which the Chicago Cubs’ top prospect was sent to triple-A Iowa despite a dominant spring training, team officials have elected to promote him to the majors, a person confirmed to the Chicago Tribune on Thursday night.

Bryant will take the roster spot of third baseman Mike Olt, who will be placed on the 15-day disabled list after getting struck on the right wrist by a pitch Saturday against the Colorado Rockies.

Bryant’s promotion was revealed shortly after he hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning of Iowa’s 10-7 win at New Orleans. Bryant batted .321 with three home runs and 10 runs batted in for Iowa.

He batted .425 with nine home runs in only 40 at-bats in spring training. He will make his debut against the San Diego Padres.

Because Bryant wasn’t on the major league roster for 12 days, he won’t be eligible for free agency until after 2021.

Etc.

Washington Nationals reliever Craig Stammen has a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm that requires surgery and could force him to miss the rest of the season. ... Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was dropped from fourth to seventh in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Nationals, the lowest in the order he’s batted in almost 10 years. Howard, who came into the game batting .148, went one for three.