Chicago Cubs: Have the Cubs found their leadoff hitter in Ian Happ?

If early spring training is any indication, Ian Happ might be Joe Maddon’s preferred answer for the Chicago Cubs’uncertain leadoff role. Could Happ’s high performance at the top of the order earn him the job in the regular season?

Ian Happ quietly had a solid rookie year in 2017 for the Chicago Cubs, slashing .253/.328/.514 with 24 home runs. It was enough to earn him one Rookie of the Year vote, but breakout years from the likes of Cody Bellinger and Rhys Hoskins kept Happ from having any real shot at the award.

Still, Happ will certainly be a valuable asset for the Cubs in 2018, and his talents could be best utilized as the leadoff hitter.

Happ has the makeup of a leadoff hitter

So far in spring training, that top of the order power has been apparent. In his three starts leading off so far, Happ has homered twice. He’s averaging 571.

But it is spring, and it’s early spring, so it’s hard to draw much meaning from his early performance. Hitters usually are quicker to get into regular season form than pitchers, so often batters take advantage of unprepared, minor-league caliber pitchers.

However, it’s not just Happ’s early strong performance that suggests he could be the leadoff guy. Joe Maddon auditioned him there in the first place for a reason.

Happ gets on base well; his 2017 wOBA was .349. He has a 55-speed grade and enough power to keep pitchers from being complacent.  He’s a switch hitter, and one that hits lefties well—averaging .276 against left-handed pitching.

Limited options for the Cubs at leadoff

The list of potential leadoff hitters for the Cubs isn’t long, but it’s flawed. Ben Zobrist is a top candidate, but he had a 2017 to forget. He had his lowest batting average in a decade at .232. It could be that his regression is a sign of aging and a bounce-back unlikely.

Beyond Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber has again been mentioned as an option. Unfortunately for Schwarber’s possible leadoff aspirations, he hits just .186 in the role in 173 plate appearances.

Albert Almora Jr. has been leading off games in spring training when Happ isn’t. He gets on base and is capable of stealing a bag—having perhaps the most famous stolen base in Cubs’ history. Almora and Happ are the most logical candidates for the role, but they’ll have a hard time sharing it. They both make most of their starts in center field, and both disproportionately dominate left-handed pitching. A complimentary platoon would be hard to pull off.

Next: Los Angeles Angels 2018 Season Preview

Ian Happ’s success will likely be reflective of the Cubs’ success. If he can sustain the success he’s had in spring training at the top of the order, it could spell good things for the 2018 Cubs.