Ian Happ was forced to exit Tuesday night’s matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers after an unfortunate incident during his plate appearance in the eighth inning. While battling at the plate, the Cubs star fouled a pitch directly off his body, appearing to strike either the upper part of his left foot or the lower section of his shin.  

Happ immediately winced in pain and took a few uneasy steps, attempting to walk off the discomfort. Despite his efforts to stay in the game, the visible limp and continued pain left little doubt. The Cubs’ medical staff rushed out to examine him and, after a brief discussion, decided to pull him from the game. Happ, who has been a steady presence in the Cubs’ outfield, looked frustrated as he made his way off the field.

With a three-year, $61M deal, this 30-year-old is a veteran the team leans on for both his defensive reliability and timely hitting. Losing him, even temporarily, would be a significant blow to the lineup. The Cubs have yet to release any details regarding the severity of the injury or whether imaging will be required. Per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com, Happ may need to spend time on the injured list after suffering a bruised left shin during Tuesday’s loss to Milwaukee. 

But officially, for now, Ian Happ‘s status remains uncertain. Both the team and fans are holding their breath, hoping it’s nothing more than a minor scare that won’t lead to an extended absence.

In the meantime, as a precautionary measure, the Chicago Cubs are calling up a rookie outfielder. The one they recently optioned after selecting him to the major league roster earlier this season. This unexpected opportunity could be a pivotal moment in the young player’s career.

Now all eyes turn to what comes next. How do the Cubs navigate this sudden roster adjustment amidst a crucial stretch in their season?

The Cubs are calling up a rookie star after Happ’s injury

After Ian Happ’s scary injury, Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported, “Looks like the Happ injury might require an IL stint. The team is calling up Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A, per a source. He’s hitting .331 down there. He had a cup of coffee with the big league team earlier this year.”

While Ian Happ’s X-rays came back negative, his injury opened up a reported promotion of Moises Ballesteros.

Ballesteros appeared in five games during his first stint with the Cubs, going just 3-for-16 with just 3 RBIs. While his time in the majors was brief and didn’t offer much room to showcase his full potential, he should have more chances to contribute this time around with the big-league club.

In Triple-A this season, the left-handed slugger has been highly productive at the plate. He has posted a strong 127 wRC+ along with an impressive .393 on-base percentage.

Moisés Ballesteros’ ability to get on base consistently and generate quality at-bats makes him a valuable depth option for the Cubs’ lineup moving forward. We will soon see how he helps the team in the absence of Happ.