THE ATHLETIC's Patrick Mooney noted Cubs 3B Kris Bryant has "become the rare baseball player with crossover appeal, an understanding of social media and a willingness to take risks with commercials." Bryant has gone "undercover as a Lyft driver, modeled clothing for Express and shot his latest spot for Red Bull in spring training, posing as a pizza delivery guy and dropping into fantasy baseball drafts." Bryant said, "I feel like companies look at [baseball players] and we’re just boring. I try to throw some personality in there" (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/3).
LIFE OF LUXURY: The Rockies reached a multiyear extension with luxury car maker Infiniti USA for naming rights to the club's renovated field-level premium seating area behind homeplate at Coors Field. The Infiniti Club will be exclusive to specific season-ticket holders and guests. The agreement, which went into effect on Opening Day, established the brand as the team's exclusive luxury automotive partner (Rockies). Meanwhile, DEX Imaging has become the title sponsor for the Marlins' premium seating and lounge, making it the DEX Diamond Club (Marlins).
ON THE RISE: In Montreal, Matthew Hansen noted Expos hats have "enjoyed renewed popularity" across Canada and the U.S. Lids Canada, with 139 stores in the country, "confirmed that Expos cap sales continue to rise." Lids Dir of Buying Len Stener said that the team is Lids' "No. 5 cap," behind only the Yankees, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Red Sox and Astros. During the early '00s, Expos caps and jerseys "became particularly popular among hiphop and rap groups, such as OutKast" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 4/3).
