The Chicago Cubs are going to add another bat to their roster this weekend, as the team will reportedly promote outfielder Ian Happ from Triple-A Iowa.
Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register was first to report the news, and it was later corroborated by other reporters, including MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian.
Happ, who has hit 16 home runs and driven in 53 RBIs for Iowa this season, was a surprise demotion by the Cubs out of spring training earlier this year. He hit 15 home runs and drove in 44 RBIs for the big league Cubs last season, but has spent the entire 2019 campaign in the minor leagues.
There has not been a corresponding roster move announced, but the Cubs will have until Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers to make a decision.
The roster move is the second in two days for the Cubs as they try to bolster their big league lineup ahead of a tough stretch of games against divisional foes. Addison Russell was optioned to Iowa on Wednesday, with catcher Willson Contreras activated from the injured list in a corresponding move.
Now, Happ will make his way back to the Cubs’ roster, likely getting playing time at second base and in center field for the North Siders.