Chicago Cubs: Top prospect Ian Happ deserves spring MVP honors

If anyone in the Cactus League deserves an MVP award for their performance this spring, it’s the Chicago Cubs’ utility-slugger Ian Happ.

The 22-year-old slugger struggled early on in spring training, slashing .250/.250/.375 with no RBI in the first four games. However, he began to heat up when the Cubs faced the Mariners on March 10th when Happ went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI. That game set off a five-game hit streak where he went 10-for-13 at the plate and collected 19 total bases.

His 16 strikeouts are a little high, but he’s leading both Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber in hits and home runs in the same amount of plate appearances. Happ also led the entire Cactus League in RBIs with 20.

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Cubs fans all around are wondering when Happ will make his debut in the Friendly Confines. However, players such as Ben Zobrist, Javier Baez, Matt Szczur and Tommy La Stella are all blocking him from getting consistent playing time.

When could we see Happ?

Given Happ’s success this spring, there’s no reason Cubs fans won’t see him during interleague play. He could even make an appearance in Boston over the last weekend in April. Theo has a propensity for bringing young players up on the road. And what better place to give Happ his first hacks than at Theo’s old stomping grounds?

The Cubs don’t play another American League team until early July when the Tampa Bay Rays come to Chicago. At the end of the month, they’ll play the Baltimore Orioles and the crosstown series with the White Sox.

Trade Bait

Unfortunately, Happ most likely won’t see any playing time in the field without a few injuries, or a major trade. And even if a trade occurs, there’s a good chance Happ would be the bait.

The one big question mark looming over Chicago’s 2017 season is the back of their bullpen. If Wade Davis and Hector Rondon don’t hold up throughout the season, Happ could be moved.

Next: Rondon struggles as Cubs fall to Astros

Chicago showed that they’re willing to trade their top prospects last year when they sent Gleyber Torres to New York in the deal that landed Aroldis Chapman. The Cubs also sent young slugger Dan Vogelbach to Seattle in exchange for Mike Montgomery.