Chicago Cubs: Ian Happ an important part of present and future
Ian Happ has emerged as a big-time asset for the Chicago Cubs, both now and down the line.
Chicago Cubs prospect Ian Happ got his first real look at big league pitching this year in Spring Training. Happ was the Cubs’ most explosive offensive player in the Spring, posting an incredible .383/.441/.750 slash line.
There were calls for Happ to start the season on the Cubs’ big league roster, but there simply was not room for him at the time. The Cubs sent him to Triple-A to start the season. However, Happ is now in the big leagues and is unlikely to ever go back to the minors.
Big time production
Happ has now played in 50 big league games for the Chicago Cubs and has quickly become one of their best overall players. Through 198 plate appearances, Happ is hitting .264/.332/.562. His 29.8% strikeout rate (FanGraphs) is concerning but Happ has become a major offensive weapon in his short time with the Cubs.
To put in perspective how valuable Happ has been, let’s take a look at his wRC+. This is a stat that tells us how many runs a player creates. It is the best way to see the overall offensive value of a hitter.
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Happ’s 128 wRC+ is squarely between the “great” and “above average” marks. Also, he only trails Kris Bryant (141) and Anthony Rizzo (133) in wRC+ on the Cubs. Simply put, through his first 50 games in the big leagues, Happ has been among the best hitters on a loaded Cubs’ offense. Basically, he has provided the kind of offensive output that they were expecting out of Kyle Schwarber and Ben Zobrist.
With fantastic natural power, Happ’s offensive value is easy to see. It is scary to think where the Cubs could be without him. However, do not discount his ability make a defensive impact.
Also impressive with the glove
Coming through the minors as a top prospect, Happ’s bat always led the way. His defense was always looked at as average at best, with most considering it unlikely that he could stick at second base. However, through the early part of his MLB career, Happ has impressed with the glove as well.
Since being called up, Happ has made a majority of his starts in center field and has done pretty well out there. This is surprising because Happ only made seven starts in center in Double and Triple-A. He has already started 22 games in center for the Chicago Cubs and has really shown the ability to pick it out there.
Through the early stages, Happ has been an above average defender at center field and second base and a legitimate plus defender in the corner outfield spots. Simply put, his defense is much improved and his defensive versatility is extremely valuable.
Happ is impressive with the glove, hitting for a ton of power and showing the ability to make adjustments. He is an exciting young player with a lot of long-term upside. However, his importance to the current Cubs’ roster cannot be overstated.
Next: Under-the-radar trade deadline targets for Cubs
Not long ago, Happ was looked at as a probable trade chip for pitching. But now, the Cubs simply cannot afford to trade him. Ian Happ is not going anywhere.