Ian Happ, still only 22 years old and ranked as the third-best second base prospect in baseball, is next up in the Cubs’ never-ending line of young positional talent. Drafted out of the University of Cincinnati, he shares many of the same traits as fellow former Bearcat and current Cubs special assistant, Kevin Youkilis. Like Youk, Happ’s sense of awareness at the dish was apparent when he walked at a 16.4% rate in A+ ball last year.
This plate discipline and .403 wOBA earned Happ a mid-season promotion to AA Tennessee.