Cubs' Happ continues tear at Triple-A

After forcing the Cubs' front office to deviate from its original plan and earning an assignment to Triple-A with an impressive performance at Spring Training, Ian Happ has remained locked in for Iowa.
The Cubs' No. 2 prospect launched his Minor League-leading sixth homer of the year on Sunday, helping Iowa defeat Round Rock, 6-3, at Principal Park. He also singled and raised his average to .311.

"We got off to a good start in the spring … it's no surprise at all. We feel like he is an advanced hitter, and I think he is," I-Cubs hitting coach Desi Wilson said.
Box score
"He showed us in the spring, I'm not surprised he's made that jump. He's really a pleasure to work with -- day in and day out, watching pitchers he's going to face and the relievers he's going to face on a daily basis just so he can get that edge and his approach as well."
All six of the 22-year-old switch-hitter's homer have come from the left side. Sunday's two-run shot off Tyler Wagner was his third this week after Happ went yard in back-to-back games against New Orleans.

"He hasn't skipped a beat," Wilson said. "I think he's just been making adjustments within the game and he's still aggressive at the plate, getting good pitches to hit. He's seeing the ball real well. Right now, he's selective, but at the same time, aggressive as well. When the ball is in the zone, he's not waiting, he's on the offensive."
Happ opened the scoring in the fourth inning as Iowa got to Wagner for six runs on four hits over 4 2/3 frames. According to Wilson, the 2015 first-round pick was looking for a fastball.
"He was just looking for his pitch to drive. That's the one pitch you really want to be consistently looking for," the former Major Leaguer said. "He got a good pitch to hit and he didn't miss it and he put us ahead. He already has his approach -- you don't need to say anything to Ian at this point."
Happ totaled 15 homers last season when he batted .279/.365/.445 with 73 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 134 games between Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee. This spring, he opened eyes by posting a .383/.441/.750 slash line with five homers and 21 RBIs in 29 Cactus League games.

"I think coming into camp, I don't think the plan was for me to start in Triple-A," Happ said on the Show Before The Show podcast prior to Opening Day. "I had only played half a season at Double-A and didn't have as much success as I wanted to have, so I think it was just coming into camp ready, then kind of showing them I belong on the Triple-A roster."
Happ capped his fifth multi-hit effort in six games with a leadoff single single in the eighth against right-hander Anthony Bass.
Cubs No. 14 prospect Chesny Young singled and scored on Happ's homer, then plated another run with a sacrifice fly in a four-run fifth. Iowa pushed across all four runs without a hit, capitalizing when third baseman Drew Robinson committed an error on Happ's grounder.
Major League veteran Eddie Butler (1-0) recorded his first win in the Cubs system after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over six innings. No. 23 prospect Pierce Johnson worked around a hit in a scoreless ninth for his second save.