SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. >> Kris Bryant‘s balky lower back feels better, he’s moving well, and his swing looks fluid. Those are all good signs for Bryant’s attempt to put together an entire season for the Rockies.

‘This was a big win for me,” Bryant said after drawing two walks in two at-bats in Colorado’s 6-1 Cactus League victory over Milwaukee on Sunday at Salt River Fields. “Honestly, just being on the field, feeling good and playing baseball is a big win for me. I’m just pretty proud of myself for getting to this point and getting back on the field.”

Even though Sunday was just an exhibition game early in spring training, it was a good stepping stone for Bryant, who last played on Aug. 10.

“I’m feeling good,” Bryant said. “There are days when (my back feels) a little cranky, but that’s a good thing for me because I know every day is not going to feel perfect.

“So, I’m finding ways to figure out how to work through certain things and certain motions that might give me a fit here and there.”

Bryant, who turned 34 on Jan. 4, has been slowed by injuries and frustrated by his lack of production since signing a seven-year, $182 million free-agent contract with the Rockies before the 2022 season.

Back issues (chronic disc problems and arthritis) and plantar fasciitis have kept Bryant in the training room. He played just 37 games in 2024 and only 33% of Colorado’s games since signing the biggest free-agent deal in franchise history. He’s swatted only 17 home runs in Rockies purple.

Bryant worked overtime in the offseason to strengthen his core and build up his back strength. Plus, Bryant is standing more upright in the batter’s box, an adjustment he will take some of the pressure off his lower back.

“I’ve been wide my whole career, and I’m trying to save my legs a little bit, and, in turn, that might save my back,” he said. “Everything I’ve worked on and focused on is an attempt to stay on the field. And, honestly, I think there are good results, mechanically, when I am standing more upright.”

Manager Bud Black expects the 2016 National League MVP to be a major contributor this season.

“We are looking for K.B. to get out there and take some good swings, which he has,” Black said Sunday. “In his work this week, he’s (swung) the bat great, he’s moving well and has no problems physically. He’s looked good in practice.”

Freeland’s slider. Veteran lefty Kyle Freeland started Sunday’s game against the Brewers, pitching two scoreless innings. He gave up no runs on two hits, walked none and struck out one. His four-seam fastball hit 92.8 mph and his two-seamer came in at 91.8 mph.

Freeland, who understands the need to maintain heat on his fastball, said he was happy with his velocity but was most pleased with the hard-breaking slider he threw to Ernesto Martinez Jr. for a swinging third strike to end the second inning.

“(The slider) was something that I just picked up two weeks ago,” he said. “It’s a pitch I’ve been working on. It’s the same grip as my curveball, but we are just seam-orienting it a little bit differently.

“I’m throwing it exactly the same, but it’s got a little more horizontal movement. Speaking to our hitters, (they say) it’s showing some things out of the hand that they haven’t seen before. That’s a positive for me.”

Senza’s heat. Right-hander Antonio Senzatela, who’s missed most of the last two seasons because of injuries to his knee and elbow, reached 96.8 mph with this fastball Sunday. He pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts.

Senzatela said he feels good about his arm strength and fastball velocity, but he’s mainly concentrating on his offspeed stuff this spring.

“When I got hurt, everything was in place,” Senzatela said, referring to the 2023 season when he suffered a torn ACL to his left knee on Aug. 18. “So right now, I’m just (working) to get everything back.”

One pitch Black wants Senzatela to utilize more is the changeup, and the right-hander has paid extra attention to the pitch.

“I’m doing everything I can to get a feel for it as soon as possible,” Senzatela said. “I’ve been trying it a lot in the bullpens and in the training program, so hopefully I find it as soon as I can.”

Take a walk. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar won a Gold Glove last year, hit 26 homers and led the National League with 45 doubles. But he also set a Rockies single-season franchise record and finished second in the NL with 200 strikeouts. His 62.3% swing rate was the highest in the majors and he walked just 23 times in 695 at-bats.

No wonder Black was pleased when Tovar walked twice against the Brewers.

“It was great to see, and he got one yesterday, too,” Black said. “He knows his challenge, knows what he needs to work on. So these first two games — good signs of that. Keep the aggressiveness but hone in on the selectivity.”