Ian Happ has been a reliable presence for the Chicago Cubs over the past few years, known for his steady performance. While he occasionally hits a slump, by season's end, his stats typically align with his career averages. This consistency makes him a potential hot commodity in the upcoming free agency.
This spring training, however, Happ is experiencing some struggles. In his first 33 plate appearances, he’s posting a .172/.273/.345 slash line with a wRC+ of 56. While these numbers might raise eyebrows, it's important to remember: it's just spring training.
Take heart in the examples of Kyle Tucker and Dansby Swanson, who both had rough starts in their initial spring training with the Cubs but then turned into offensive powerhouses once the regular season kicked off. For veterans like Happ, spring training often serves as a time to hone specific skills, making early results less indicative of future performance.
Happ seems to be focusing on refining his plate discipline. He's maintaining his career walk rate of 12.1% this spring, but the real story lies in his swing choices.
Last season, he swung at 20.8% of pitches outside the strike zone. This spring, that’s down to 17.5%.
Conversely, his swings at pitches inside the zone have jumped from 63.3% last year to 75.7% now. Overall, his swing percentage has increased by nearly 5%.
This suggests Happ might be gearing up to be more aggressive at the plate this season, especially with Tucker no longer in the lineup. An assertive Happ could be a major asset, provided he maintains productivity. The concern is his line-drive rate, which is currently at 8.7% compared to his career average of 20.7%.
With only 33 plate appearances under his belt, there's no need for panic. Happ is known for being streaky, so this could simply be a precursor to one of his cold spells. As Opening Day approaches, fans will be eager to see if his adjustments pay off.