Chicago Cubs Minors: Checking in with talent down on the farm

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Mar 20, 2017; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (86) hits a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Ian Happ, 2B

Ian Happ is off to the best start of any Cubs prospect. The 22-year-old Happ made his debut at Triple-A Iowa this season, and has not disappointed.

Through 19 games, Happ is slashing .253/.330/.557 with seven home runs and 12 RBI.

Happ’s eight home runs in 19 games ties the amount of home runs he hit in 2016 while in Single-A Advanced. The only difference is, in 2016 Happ hit seven home runs in 69 games compared to just 19 in 2017.

That 2016 season saw Happ hit a career-best 15 home runs between Single-A Advanced and Double-A. That season, Happ appeared in 134 games and recorded 567 plate appearances.

If Happ can continue his hot streak in 2017, he could surpass that 15 home run mark around plate appearance number 200.

That jump in power for Happ serves as an interesting sign to the progression of a player that has always been a high OBP (.359 career OBP), and low home run total (24 career home runs in 862 career plate appearances before the 2017 season) guy.

Happ is on track to have a very nice 2017 season. It could be just what Happ needed to finally get the call to the big leagues.

With his ability to play all over the diamond, and his new-found power, Happ could become a superstar in Major League Baseball within five years.

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