(670 The Score) Cubs left fielder Ian Happ opened the regular season by slugging in the heart of the team's lineup, but his power has slipped since.
After posting a slash line of .292/.405/.448 in March/April, Happ has slashed .253/.375/.374 in May. Happ is hoping to reverse those fortunes and produce more power, as he told the Bernstein & Holmes Show on Tuesday.
"Most certainly, yes," Happ said. "Whenever it would like to click, I'm here waiting for it."
Happ is hitting .273 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 52 games this season.
As a player who closes studies analytics, Happ understands that his lack of slugging prowess in May has been the result of failing to consistently put the barrel on the baseball. Even so, Happ takes pride in maintaining consistent plate discipline amid his power dip. He has a career-best .390 on-base percentage and 16.2% walk rate this season.
"I just have not been getting the results the last couple weeks," Happ said. "That's baseball. It's really frustrating and challenging. But haven't been hitting the ball that hard but off the end or off the handle. I haven't been on the barrel consistently, which is frustrating. But the chase rate has been super low. Continue to not go out of the zone to chase results, which is good. Some looking strikeouts that could've been walks, things like that add up on you when things are going bad. But it's just a matter of time when I start finding barrels again and getting hot. That's the way this thing goes a little bit."
The Cubs host the Rays on Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field in the second contest of their three-game series. Pregame coverage will start at 6:30 p.m. on 670 The Score, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.
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