A surprising Cubs player ranks as one of the most clutch in all of baseball

I'm not saying Ian Happ isn't a streaky hitter because he is. But when we close the book on the season, he's proven himself to be remarkably consistent in what he does at the dish - not to mention the pair of Gold Gloves sitting on his mantle for his work in left field.

Since breaking into the big leagues back in 2017 at the ripe age of 22, the former first-rounder has never been a below-average hitter, at least not in terms of OPS+. His OPS from 2022 to 2023 shifted just ten points and with a month-and-a-half left in the 2024 season, he's at the same .781 mark he finished 2022 with.

The frustration some fans feel for Happ comes from his tendency to be a relatively streaky hitter. Those cold spells are painful, but when he's dialed in, as was the case recently when he put a struggling Cubs offense on his back, he's capable of putting himself in the conversation with the best run producers in the league.

And, by at least one measure, that's rightfully so: Looking at Happ's OPS in high-leverage situations, he's the third-best hitter in baseball, trailing only Jurickson Profar of the Padres and Cal Raleigh of the Mariners.

Cubs have at least two more years with Ian Happ in left field

Happ, who signed an extension with Chicago prior to the 2023 campaign, is under team control with no-trade protection through 2026. He's established himself as an above-average piece to the puzzle, already locking down the third 20+ homer, 20+ double campaign of his career.

With Seiya Suzuki reportedly heading for full-time DH duties once Cody Bellinger is cleared for the field, the Cubs will head into the offseason with at least two-thirds of their outfield picture clear for 2025, with Happ in left and Pete Crow-Armstrong in center. If Bellinger opts out for another trip into free agency this fall, right field could open up - and Jed Hoyer could hand the reins to a prospect or bring in a big name to add more pop to the lineup.

But Happ and his patient approach will be back in the mix regardless of who is manning that other corner spot in the Cubs outfield come 2025 - and that's good news for a team desperate for a return to October.