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Two days ago, Ian Happ lead off the Cubs third Spring Training game of the year by homering off of Madison Bumgarner. While pitchers are hardly using their best stuff or giving max effort this early in the Spring, it was still a good sign to see from the Cubs young outfielder who is campaigning to be the team’s primary lead-off hitter.
After getting the day off yesterday, Maddon slated Happ at the top of his lineup card for today’s game against the White Sox. Happ responded by doing this:
.@ihapp_1's leadoff strategy is one we can get behind. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/T1gxgtoZ13
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 27, 2018
That baby flew straight out over the center field fence off of White Sox youngster Carson Fulmer.
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Fulmer is an intriguing prospect in his own right, but he’s struggled to the tune of a 5.40 ERA and 5.78 FIP over 35 career major league innings over the last two seasons.
There’s still time for Fulmer to improve and grow into that upside that the White Sox saw in him when they drafted him 8th overall in 2015, one pick before the Cubs selected Ian Happ, who posted an .842 OPS with 24 home runs in 413 plate appearances as a rookie in 2017.
For now, though, it looks like the Cubs should be pretty thankful for the Sox passing up on Happ.
