Nancy Armour

USA TODAY Sports

CLEVELAND -- The best part about Kris Bryant is that he’s only going to get better.

That sounds almost blasphemous, or maybe greedy, given that at the grand old age of 24 he’s already helped the Chicago Cubs end the sorriest streak in all of sports with their first World Series title since 1908. Later this month, he’ll pick up the NL MVP trophy, which can go next to last year’s Rookie of the Year award in his trophy case.

But Bryant’s performance in the postseason, the last three games of the World Series in particular, showed why he is now the game’s pre-eminent player. Gave a glimpse, too, of what’s in store for the Cubs, whose 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night halted their century-long exile in baseball’s wildnerness.

“How about this guy?” Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg said, reaching out to pat Bryant on the shoulder as he ran by in the champagne-soaked clubhouse.

In many ways, Bryant has positioned himself to be his generation’s Derek Jeter. He certainly has the offensive tools, along with the catlike reflexes on defense that made Jeter such a joy to watch. He has Jeter’s understated personality, too, quick to lavish praise on his teammates instead of crowing about his own success.

It’s true that Mike Trout puts up better numbers. But as Alex Rodriguez learned, World Series rings are the only measuring stick that matters, and Bryant is likely to have a few more of those by the time his playing days are over.

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“I’m really grateful for my opportunities and what I have here,” Bryant said. “When you’re in the moment, you just want to put out the best version of yourself you can be. That’s what I want to be.”

The expectations on Bryant have always been sky-high. Drafted second overall in 2013, he was in the majors two years later. All he did in his first season was lead Chicago to the NLCS.

But steely as he appears on the field, Bryant is still a youngster. It’s hard to recall now, but he struggled mightily in the first four games of the Series as the Cubs were pushed to the brink of elimination. He managed just one hit as he tried to adjust to Cleveland’s pitchers, Corey Kluber in particular.

“They come at him hard,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

But Bryant is a quick study. His homer in Game 5 rallied the Cubs and the rest, as they say, is history. Bryant would go 6-for-12 with two homers as the Cubs became the first team since the Pirates in 1979 to win the World Series on the road after being down 3-1.

“Just seeing them, the repetitions, getting used to their pitching staff and how they called pitches,” Bryant said of the difference. “And then getting the nerves out of the way, too. Playing in the World Series, there’s going to be some nerves here. I was just feeling a little more comfortable out there.”

Confident, too, judging by his aggressiveness on the base path Wednesday night.

After leading off the fourth with a single, Bryant he moved to second on a hit batter and took third on a fielder’s choice. Cleveland center field Rajai Davis’ throw home on Addison Russell’s fly ball was just a tad too high, and that slim opening was all Bryant needed.

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As Roberto Perez leaped for the ball, Bryant slid, hooking his leg behind Perez and swiping it across the plate before Perez could snag the ball out of the air.

He did it again the next inning, running as soon as the ball left Corey Kluber’s hand, allowing him to score all the way from first on Anthony Rizzo’s single to right. Just like that, the Cubs had a 5-1 lead.

The Cubs would blow a three-run lead, sending the game into extra innings. But they would rally for two runs in the 10th, and as Bryant scooped up Michael Martinez’s grounder for what would be the final out of the World Series, a grin already spreading across his face.

“Hopefully I have a long career,” he said, “and I can sit back and reflect on this when I’m done playing.”

There will be plenty more where this comes from. Great as he is now, Bryant is just getting started.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.

Cubs celebrate first World Series title since 1908​