While the Chicago Cubs started hot in 2024, Ian Happ could not join them. The beginning of the season looked to make it difficult for him to return to All-Star level. His defense was even taking a downward trajectory after two consecutive seasons of winning a Gold Glove Award.
Through the first month of the season, Happ had just a .216 record with one home run and almost thirty strikeouts, which was not quite what he was looking for. He was patient, though, walking 17 times to contribute to his .333 OBP. The hits, however, were just hard to come by.
The beginning of May was not much different for him. After just over a week into the month, manager Craig Counsell sat Happ down during the Atlanta series. Whether something was ailing him or he just needed to reset, it’s too unclear to be sure. But whatever it was, it helped.
In the last 14 days, Happ is batting .300 with four home runs and thirteen RBIs. He is slugging .700 with an OPS of 1.070. These are like the numbers that made Happ an All-Star in 2022 and led to the Cubs deciding to keep him in Chicago as part of the next core of talent.
The numbers continued these last two days at home against the Chicago White Sox. Happ went a combined 4-8 with two doubles and three RBIs, helping the Cubs sweep their crosstown rivals. Even after a big homestand, Happ has to be licking his chops seeing who and where are next on the schedule.
An On-Fire Ian Happ Takes Cubs To A Place He Loves To Hit
Ian Happ and the Chicago Cubs will be opening a four-game set on Thursday night in Cincinnati against the Reds. The Reds just took two of three from the Cubs this past weekend at Wrigley Field, so the Cubs will be looking for some revenge. Lucky for them, Happ is healthy, hot, and loves Cincinnati.
Happ went to school in Cincinnati and has a history there, going past being an MLB player. But when he heads to Cincinnati, he does absolute damage against the Reds.
In 49 career games at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Happ is hitting a ridiculous .329 with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs. 32 of his 55 hits are for extra bases, and his OPS is a phenomenal 1.160. All Ian Happ knows to do in Cincinnati is damage.
This is a crucial point in the season for Happ in the Cubs. They have climbed back to .500 in the record column and need to continue to climb. The road ahead is favorable, as they are one of only five teams in the National League with a .500 record. Happ will look to tee off on the Reds this weekend and hopefully for an even longer time to come.
