Chicago Cubs rookie Ian Happ had an ideal MLB debut with a home run on his third career at-bat.
While the Chicago Cubs had a tough day against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, their 2015 first-round pick hit a two-run home run for his first career hit in the 7th inning.
First MLB hit and homer happen all at once for @ihapp_1. pic.twitter.com/whYQ7UTu3p
— MLB (@MLB) May 13, 2017
Happ played right field and batted second in the lineup. The 22-year-old Pittsburgh native thought he scored his first hit in the fifth inning on a quick hit past the first baseman. The play was scored as an error, however. He also walked and struck out in the game.
The Cubs called up Happ from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday as the team has been struggling with injuries this season. Kris Bryant has been out with stomach ailment since Friday, while Addison Russell and Ben Zobrist are also dealing with injury.
Prior to the game, Happ expressed his enthusiasm to Jesse Rogers of ESPN:
"“I feel great. Excited to be a part of this and ready to go.”"
Happ is just the fifth Cubs player to hit a home run in his debut in the last 25 seasons, and the first since Willson Contreras achieved the feat last season.
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Before coming to the big leagues, Happ was playing impressively in the Cactus League. He had hit nine home runs and brought in 25 runs on a .298 batting average.
Happ told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times after the defeat that he was still pleased with his debut:
"“It was a fun day. Losing stinks. There’s no fun way to lose. But to be in there, to be around these guys, to be part of it was definitely fun.”"
Ian Happ likely won’t be getting a ton of playing time for the Chicago Cubs when players come back from injury. However, this was a pleasing start for the 9th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft.