Cubs' Craig Counsell Gives Update on Ian Happ Injury

Happ, a dynamic defender and winner of three consecutive Gold Gloves, was having another strong season, batting .269 with a .745 OPS and a 114 OPS+, along with three home runs and 19 RBIs.

Now in his ninth season with the Cubs, the team is doing the right thing and taking a cautious approach. Every game matters, but Chicago is still 25-18 and have a 1.5 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League Central.

It is also only mid-May, and rushing Happ back can only lead to further setbacks.

The Cubs called up No. 4 prospect Moisés Ballesteros in Happ’s absence, and the rookie will serve as the designated hitter with Seiya Suzuki receiving outfield reps. Suzuki is not a very good defender, but should be aided by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s range in center and Kyle Tucker’s reliability in right.

Ballesteros also represents the second big-time prospect to earn a Big League spot this spring. The Matt Shaw experiment has been a disappointment so far, but it is still an exciting time for Chicago fans to see some of their top youngsters get MLB opportunities.

Hopefully, Happ can progress through his rehab and continue to provide this team with solid contact hitting and outstanding defense.