The Chicago Cubs placed outfielder Ian Happ (left rib contusion) on the 10-day injured list before Friday’s game at Wrigley Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Happ and infielder Nico Hoerner collided during the eighth inning on Sunday in the Cubs’ loss at Cincinnati, with Hoerner placed on the IL later that day with a left forearm strain.
“It’s just not progressing as quick as we wanted it to,” said Happ, who took batting practice on Friday. “It was getting better. I thought it would start to clear up quicker, and I went out for BP today, ran around, tried to push it a little bit and just knew that I wasn’t gonna be able to do enough to help the team. We need options off the bench, (we) need outfielders.”
Happ, 26, is a career .242 hitter with 64 home runs and 174 RBIs. Through 26 games this season, he is hitting .167 with two homers, four RBIs and a .307 on-base percentage.
The move is retroactive to May 4, the longest allowable amount under MLB rules, so Happ would be able to return next Friday against the Detroit Tigers.
“The swing still feels good, in BP today and cage work the last couple days trying to get ready for pinch hits,” Happ said Friday. “The swing still feels like it’s in a place that I feel comfortable, and I’m happy about that.”
The Cubs also selected the contract of Nick Martini from Triple-A Iowa, recalled right-hander Jason Adam from Iowa and designated left-hander Kyle Ryan for assignment.
–Field Level Media