4 years agoChicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ now has a stranglehold on the center field job, per manager David Ross, who said that even with the impressive play of rookie Nico Hoerner, Happ remains the team’s primary center fielder, no matter the opposing starting pitcher. Despite having hit ninth in seven of his 10 starts this season, Happ has amassed a 1.031 OPS and ranks inside the top two percent of all hitters in the Majors in xSLG (.690), xwOBA (.458), and xwOBAcon (.572). The vote of confidence from Ross should be all that season-long owners need as justification to begin rostering Happ in larger numbers, despite his spot in the batting order.--Jesse Borek
Source: Jordan Bastian