Ian Happ has become a model of year-end consistency for the Chicago Cubs

Few hitters are more committed to maintaining his approach over the grind of 162 games than Ian Happ. The Chicago Cubs veteran has demonstrated that again here in 2024, riding the ups and downs along the way toward what looks to be another solidly above-average year at the plate.

In 2022, Happ played in 158 games for Chicago, finishing the season with a .781 OPS and 117 OPS+ en route to his first All-Star selection and Gold Glove. He followed it up with a 2023 campaign in which he brought home a second straight Gold Glove for his work in left to go along with a .791 OPS and 116 OPS+.

In both of them, Happ worked through some really tough stretches at the plate. Every time he's mired in a slump, the switch-hitting outfielder has stuck to his game plan and approach, avoiding making short-term quick fixes that could put his mechanics at risk. And, in doing so, he's shown a remarkable ability to weather the storms and find calm seas on the other side.

Another hot streak for Ian Happ has him eyeing more personal bests

Over his last 15 games, Happ has been on a heater, leading all Cubs hitters with a 1.019 OPS (.283/.389/.630) and eight of his 13 hits going for extra bases. In Sunday's 7-2 loss to Miami, Chicago recorded six hits as a team - three of them came from Happ, who raised his OPS to .797 on the year.

This latest hot stretch has the former first-rounder up to a 121 OPS+ and, before the season wraps, he may very well have new career highs in both home runs and RBI. Back in 2021, he blasted 25 homers (he's at 23 entering Monday's matchup against Pittsburgh) and he's a dozen runs batted in shy of his personal high-water mark of 84, which he set last year.

The Cubs have, once again, fallen short of expectations - and the offense has been the primary culprit behind the team's struggles. This team still needs a big-time power bat, but with the season winding down, one thing is clear: Happ hasn't been part of the problem, but rather one of the solutions that would further benefit from more power being added to this lineup.