Chicago Cubs LF Ian Happ provides update on unfortunate and painful oblique injury

Happ didn’t want to go on the injured list, but felt it was what was best for him and the team this season.

“I just wasn’t able to get the oblique to cooperate and get to a place where I felt like I could play,” Happ said. “Hoping to take these days and get it right, not have to deal with it again. And that’s one of the kind of assessments you make at this point in the season is just making sure that you’re right for the long haul, and not doing something that’s going to jeopardize a longer stint.”

Happ said he’s only been on the injured list once before when he had to be carted off the field in 2021 after colliding with second baseman Nico Hoerner in center field. He had injuries to his ribs and face.

Ian Happ wants to get healthy for a long summer

Happ said he takes pride in playing through pain, but the oblique injury was causing issues with his at-bats.

“Ultimately, the decision just made the most sense to give the body a chance to get right,” Happ said. “And something like this, like an oblique, is just something that you’re just a little bit tentative, and you’re not sure how it’s going to react.

“When you go into like, 100% full game swings, it’s really tough to stimulate that, and it’s really tough to know exactly how it’s going to react. And it’s something that (has a) high re-injury rate, something that’s really easy to tweak…so getting the next week to get it right makes most sense.”

Happ is batting .269/.364/.381 this season with three home runs and 19 RBI.

With Happ on the IL, the Cubs are set to call up Moises Ballesteros to make his debut in the majors on Tuesday night. Ballesteros is batting .368/.420/.522  in Triple-A with a .942 OPS in 34 games.