It's official: Ian Happ is back with Cubs |
MILWAUKEE – The Chicago Cubs today recalled infielder/outfielder
Ian Happ from Triple-A Iowa. Happ will make the start in left field and bat sixth for the Cubs tonight when they begin their three-game series at the Milwaukee Brewers.
Happ, 24, joins the Cubs for the first time this year after spending all or parts of the last two seasons in the big leagues, when he combined to bat .242 (182-for-751) with 36 doubles, 39 homers, 112 RBI, a .341 on-base percentage and a .459 slugging percentage, good for an .801 OPS. He has played every defensive position but catcher and shortstop at the major league level, most frequently in center field (117 games), left field (88 games) and at second base (46 games). In 99 games with Iowa this season, Happ has batted .242 (87-for-359) with 18 doubles, 16 homers, 53 RBI, a .364 on-base percentage and a .432 slugging percentage, totaling a .795 OPS. The switch-hitter has batted .272 with an .846 OPS vs. left-handed pitching and hit .230 with a .774 OPS vs. right-handed pitching this year. Happ has batted .324 (24-for-74) with five home runs, a .451 on-base percentage, .608 slugging and 1.059 OPS in 20 games in July. Happ broke into the majors with the Cubs on May 13, 2017, less than two years after being selected by the club in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2015 Draft. He batted .253 (92-for-364) with 17 doubles, 24 homers and 68 RBI in 115 games in his first season, becoming the fastest player in club history to reach 20 homers (89 games) and totaling the third-most homers by a rookie in franchise history. Happ batted .233 (90-for-387) with 15 homers and 44 RBI in 142 games last year, and hit .135 (7-for-52) in 17 games this spring training before being optioned to Triple-A on March 23. The #Cubs today recalled INF/OF Ian Happ from @IowaCubs. pic.twitter.com/kl95MWp8W7
