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Cubs left fielder Ian Happ received’t be showing in video games in the meanwhile after he suffered a light hamstring pressure throughout a recreation earlier this week, membership supervisor Craig Counsell instructed reporters (together with Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times). Counsell added that the membership stays “optimistic” that Happ can be prepared for Opening Day, although he added that the 29-year-old might want to get extra reps in earlier than Spring Coaching involves an in depth with the intention to be prepared for the beginning of the season.
The ninth-overall decide within the 2015 draft, Happ is coming into the primary yr of the three-year, $61MM extension he inked with the Cubs early final season. The switch-hitter has settled in to turn into one of many membership’s most dependable regulars in current seasons, slashing a stable .259/.351/.435 (119 wRC+) throughout the previous two seasons whereas incomes his first profession All Star look throughout the 2022 season and back-to-back Gold Glove awards in left area. In 2023, Happ posted a career-best 22.1% strikeout price whereas strolling at a powerful 14.3% clip. That sturdy plate self-discipline has left Happ as a key piece of the membership’s core coming into the 2023 season alongside the likes of Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner.
Dropping Happ for any period of time coming into the common season would certainly be a blow to the Cubs, although Chicago has loads of different choices for its outfield combine accessible ought to their longest-tenured hitter begin the season on the shelf. With high outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong anticipated to start the season on the Triple-A stage, the likes of Mike Tauchman and Alexander Canario determine to be the almost certainly choices for a reserve outfield spot with the large league membership to open the season at the moment on the 40-man roster. Veteran left fielder David Peralta can also be in camp with the membership after signing on a minor league deal final month, with slugging prospect Owen Caissie additionally among the many membership’s non-roster invitees.
Extra from across the NL Central…
- Pirates outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Joshua Palacios have but to look this spring after being slowed by accidents coming into camp, although supervisor Derek Shelton just lately instructed reporters (together with these at MLB.com) that every figures to see the sector sooner or later within the subsequent week. McCutchen, 37, has been engaged on defensive drills and taking swings this spring whereas rehabbing the partially torn achilles that ended his 2023 marketing campaign in early September. The veteran figures to enter the 2024 season penciled in because the membership’s common DH, although he did make occasional appearances in proper area final season. Palacios, in the meantime, figures to battle with the likes of Edward Olivares and Connor Joe for taking part in time within the outfield alongside regulars Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski. The 28-year-old slashed .239/.279/.413 in 91 video games with Pittsburgh final yr however has been slowed this spring by a decrease leg damage.
- Cardinals southpaw Matthew Liberatore spoke to reporters (together with Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) just lately about his objectives for the approaching season, and whereas he indicated that he nonetheless hopes to have a future with the membership as a beginning pitcher sooner or later, proper now his precedence is contributing within the majors no matter his function. Liberatore struggled to a 5.88 ERA in 11 begins for the Cardinals final yr however was dominant out of the bullpen, posting a 2.84 ERA in 12 2/3 innings of labor with a 24.5% strikeout price. The membership’s beginning 5 seems set with Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Kyle Gibson, and Lance Lynn all poised to take spots within the rotation, although Liberatore has stretched out as a starter alongside the likes of Zack Thompson with Worthy noting that supervisor Oli Marmol hasn’t dominated out the opportunity of opening the season with a six-man rotation.
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