Kris Bryant says he's disappointed in being demoted, but motivated to reach the big leagues soon.

The prospect spoke for the first time since the Chicago Cubs announced that he wouldn't begin the 2015 season with the Major League club.

"I don't want to say I'm mad or anything, I'm just extremely disappointed," Bryant said. "I wanted my performance to matter, and to me it felt like it didn't matter as much as I thought it would.

"The dream is on hold for a little bit but I'm hungrier than ever."

Bryant was the second overall pick in the 2013 amateur draft and led all Cactus and Grapefruit League hitters with nine home runs after hitting 43 last year as minor league player of the year.

"I was told it was a top-two spring training performance, which was cool to hear," Bryant said of his meeting with management. "There's been a lot of guys in this game; I'm just a rookie trying to make my way there. To hear that is something pretty special to me."