UC’s Ian Happ Drafted 9th Overall By The Chicago Cubs
By Chris Bains
Cincinnati Bearcats infielder/outfielder Ian Happ was selected 9th overall in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs, as anticipated. He is UC’s highest ever selection, as the program had never produced a first round pick before today.
Happ fit the bill of a top 10 pick. He led the Bearcats in batting average (.369), OPS (1,164%), home runs (14), RBIs (44), runs (47), and stolen bases (12). Those numbers made him an easy selection for the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year as well as 1st-Team All-American honors.
To be honest, if Happ wasn’t a first round pick it would have been a huge insult to the Bearcats, almost as much as misspelling the school’s name:
With the 9th overall pick in the 2015 #MLBDraft, the @Cubs select @ihapp_1, OF, from University of Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/IBdBaH7XLL
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 9, 2015
In the bigger picture, this is a huge, potentially momentous day for the UC baseball program. If head coach Ty Neal can continue to improve the on-field performance, he can point to putting Happ in the majors to sign even more talented players down the road. It worked for Mick Cronin, why not Cincinnati baseball?
It stands to reason that Happ could be helping the program long after he’s played his last game at Marge Schott Stadium.