Bryant to keep wearing torn pants after record night

The world of sports has always been full of superstitions, but Kris Bryant is about to take it to a whole new level.

The Chicago Cubs superstar had the night of his life at the plate on Monday, with a historic performance - and he did it all, incredibly, with a hole in the backside of his pants, sustained while sliding into third base in the first inning. His teammates needled him about it, and as the night continued, Bryant quickly became a believer in his holy garment.

"I've never been the superstitious type, but everybody in the dugout was saying, 'It's the hole in the pants,'" Bryant told reporters after his Cubs finished their 11-8 win over Cincinnati.

Superstition is about to become Bryant's way from here on, though.

The 24-year-old fought through his wardrobe malfunction to finish Monday's game a perfect 5-for-5 with three homers and two doubles. His five extra-base hits set a modern-era Cubs record, and joined George Gore - who had two doubles and three triples for the then-White Stockings on July 9, 1885 against the Providence Grays - as the only Cubs players with five extra-base hits in one game.

He also set a new Cubs franchise record for total bases with 16, broke Ernie Banks' mark - by 10 days - as the youngest Cub to have a three-homer game, and became just the fifth modern-era batter to go 5-for-5 with five extra-base hits.

Related - Maddon: Bryant too classy to accept visiting curtain call

After that kind of record-breaking night - and coming on the heels of a 4-for-23 stretch, no less - nobody can question Bryant's choice to stick with the torn pants.

It sounds like he's already going to great lengths to protect them, too.

"I'm going to wear those until they're done," Bryant said. "I told (the equipment managers) 'don’t touch them.'"