# Ian Happ
**Ian Happ** (Ian Edward Happ, born 1994 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American professional baseball switch-hitting outfielder who has played left field for the [Chicago Cubs](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-cubs) since his major league debut on May 13, 2017.[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happia01.shtml) He bats left-handed and right-handed and throws right-handed, is listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 205 pounds, and wears number 8.[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happia01.shtml) • [2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) A 2022 National League All-Star and three-time NL Gold Glove winner (2022-24), he spent his entire big league career with the Cubs through the 2026 season, entering free agency afterward.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) • [3](https://www.mlb.com/news/ian-happ-talks-cubs-tenure-set-to-enter-free-agency)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / physical | 1994, Pittsburgh, PA; bats both, throws right; 5'10", 205 lb[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happia01.shtml) |
| Draft | Cubs first round, ninth overall, 2015, from the University of Cincinnati; the first Cincinnati Bearcat taken in the first round in school history[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happia01.shtml) • [4](https://www.mlb.com/stories/ian-happ-career-timeline) |
| Debut | May 13, 2017 vs. St. Louis, at age 22 years 274 days; 1 hit, 1 home run, 2 RBI[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happia01.shtml) |
| Honors | 2022 NL All-Star; NL Gold Glove at left field 2022, 2023, and 2024[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) |
| Contract | Three-year extension signed April 12, 2023, covering 2024-26, worth $61 million; free agent from 2027[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happia01.shtml) • [2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) |
| Career totals (through 2026) | 4,391 at-bats, .243 average, 197 home runs, 625 RBI, 74 stolen bases, .783 OPS[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) |
| Franchise marks | Fastest Cub to 20 career home runs (89 games); first Cub since 1901 with 10 homers in each of his first six seasons[5](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/sgh4yt909asfozhqjyb4.pdf) • [2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) |
## Early life, college, and draft
A graduate of Mt. Lebanon [High School](https://www.edgepedia.org/high-school) in Pittsburgh, Happ went to the [University of Cincinnati](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-cincinnati), whose 2015 season saw him earn First-Team All-American recognition from both ABCA and D1Baseball, reach the semifinalist stage for the Golden Spikes Award, and take home American Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors; he additionally made the first team of Academic All-Americans.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) He was a two-time Cape Cod League All-Star with Harwich in 2013 and 2014.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023)
The Cubs selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2015 draft, making him the first University of Cincinnati player ever taken in the first round.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) • [4](https://www.mlb.com/stories/ian-happ-career-timeline) Entering the 2017 season he ranked as the Cubs' second-best prospect by [Baseball America](https://www.edgepedia.org/baseball-america) and 28th overall on MLB.com's Top 100 list.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023)
## MLB career
**Early seasons.** Happ debuted on May 13, 2017, and showed his power quickly, becoming the fastest player in Cubs history to reach 20 home runs, doing so in 89 career games.[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happia01.shtml) • [5](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/sgh4yt909asfozhqjyb4.pdf) On June 13, 2017, at the Mets he hit his first career grand slam at 22 years, 305 days old, the youngest switch-hitter in franchise history with a grand slam.[5](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/sgh4yt909asfozhqjyb4.pdf) He became the first Cub in franchise history (since 1901) to reach 10 home runs in each of the first six seasons of his career.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023)
**2022 breakout.** Happ set career highs with a .271 average, 42 doubles, 72 RBI, 155 hits, and 158 games played, was named a National League All-Star as a reserve via the player vote, and won his first Gold Glove in left field.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) On August 26, 2022, in a 4-3, 10-inning win at [Milwaukee](https://www.edgepedia.org/milwaukee), his two multi-run home runs accounted for the Cubs' only two hits of the game; STATS, Inc., reported he became the first MLB player in the modern era to do that.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023)
**2023-24.** In 2023 he set career marks in at-bats (580), RBI (84), walks (99), runs (86), and stolen bases (14), won a second consecutive Gold Glove, and signed a three-year extension on April 12 covering 2024-26.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) In 2024 he tied his career high with 25 home runs and set career marks in RBI (86) and runs scored (89), won a third straight Gold Glove, and finished second in MLB with 8 defensive runs saved per FanGraphs.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) Facing Oakland on September 17, 2024, Happ launched a 103.2 mph pitch from Mason Miller for a home run, the quickest thrown ball ever taken deep during the Statcast era, which began in 2015.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) Across 2023 and 2024 he had over 30 doubles, 20 home runs, 80 RBI, and 80 walks each season, joining [Juan Soto](https://www.edgepedia.org/juan-soto) as the only two Major Leaguers with those numbers in both seasons.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023)
**2025 and milestones.** Happ appeared in 150 games in 2025, hitting .243 (138-for-569) with 23 home runs and 79 RBI, reaching the 20-homer mark for the third straight season.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) He played his 1,000th career game on April 5 against San Diego, becoming the 32nd player in team history to reach 1,000 games and the 21st to play his 1,000th MLB game as his 1,000th with the Cubs; only Happ, Mark Grace, and Shawon Dunston were drafted by the Cubs and played 1,000 games with the club.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) He led [National League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-league) left fielders in putouts (300) and fielding average (.997) and committed one error in left field for the second consecutive year.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023) He hit two home runs in the NLDS against Milwaukee that October.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023)
**2026 and free agency.** In the 2026 regular season he batted .218 with 24 home runs and 68 RBI in 546 at-bats, and his career line stood at .243 with 197 home runs and a .783 OPS.[2](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023)
## League role and off-field work
Happ has taken part in the sport's governance. He served as an alternate player member of MLB's joint competition committee, which approved the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system introduced in 2026, alongside union representatives including Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, and [Cal Raleigh](https://www.edgepedia.org/cal-raleigh).[6](https://apnews.com/article/d70c6431d1cccfcf7a6e69e3ce47b417)
With his wife Julie he founded the Happ Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering children to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.[7](https://www.happfoundation.org/) In 2023 he collaborated with the English artist Patrick Vale on a series of drawings showing [Wrigley Field](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrigley-field) from field level, a view he wanted to share with fans who had never been on the field; the work was exhibited at a Chicago gallery.[8](https://apnews.com/article/956dbb1af526b2491bf06bfb7168faf2)
## References
1. [Ian Happ Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More, Baseball-Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happia01.shtml)
2. [Ian Happ Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-happ-664023)
3. [Ian Happ talks Cubs tenure, set to enter free agency, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/ian-happ-talks-cubs-tenure-set-to-enter-free-agency)
4. [Career timeline: Ian Happ, MLB Stories](https://www.mlb.com/stories/ian-happ-career-timeline)
5. [Ian Happ INF/OF, MLB.com player PDF](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/sgh4yt909asfozhqjyb4.pdf)
6. [MLB will use robot umpires in 2026, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/d70c6431d1cccfcf7a6e69e3ce47b417)
7. [Happ Foundation](https://www.happfoundation.org/)
8. [For Happ, vision of Wrigley Field comes to life through partnership with artist, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/956dbb1af526b2491bf06bfb7168faf2)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Baseball and related bat sports › Professional baseball in the Americas › MLB players and personnel biographies › Outfielders › Outfielders active since 2000 › Surnames A to H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license