When Nobody Knows Your Name: Potential 2015 Indians Draft Choice Ian Happ

(Photo courtesy of Cincinnati.com)

As we get closer to the 2015 MLB first-year player draft, the Indians have been rumored to be interested in a high school pitcher, but there’s not much separation among the prep arms. With picks at 42 and 59, the Indians can re-visit high school pitching after a secure opening pick. After studying several players projected to be taken around pick 17, there is one player I believe the Indians should deeply target: University of Cincinnati outfielder Ian Happ.

Happ is a 6’0″, 205 pounder who will turn 21 years old in August and thus can be moved through the system quickly. A switch-hitter, he is better from the left side and projects to hit for both average and power. He is projected to be a corner outfielder, so he is going to have to hit in order to keep his value.

A bit of an odd prospect because he really doesn’t have a set position once he transitions to the pro level. He could easily find himself at a corner outfield spot, where the bat doesn’t play extraordinarily well, third base, where it has a chance to be league average for the position, or second base, a potential reincarnation of Jason Kipnis.

Offensively, Happ has a lengthy track record of success with his time in a Cincinnati uniform as well as in the Cape Cod Summer League. He has an elite eye at the plate – he walked in nearly 18% of his career plate appearances – and enough pop to slug 25 doubles and 14 home runs in a pro season.

He’s in the mold of a Jason Kipnis/Dustin Ackley – solid league-average offensive performers.

Here is a highlight video from Baseball America, showing him taking swings from the left side in the cage and fielding ground balls in between innings:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGfmKD61XrM?rel=0]

The good news is, hitting does not appear as if it will be an issue with Happ. This video shows him facing live pitching from both sides of the plate:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzmjRyFAmos?rel=0]

He has tremendous balance at the plate from both sides and keeps his hands back well, which will allow him to adjust to pro-level breaking balls. He does a great job of keeping his hands inside the ball and getting extension with them throughout the swing, keeping his hands square and unbroken in the hitting zone- allowing him to hit for power.

Happ is a Pittsburgh native, no relation to former Phillies lefty J.A. Happ, and has enjoyed an award-winning collegiate career in Ohio. He was a Perfect Game Freshman All-American with the Bearcats in 2013, and Cape Cod League all-star in both 2013 and 2014.

He has spent his first three seasons on the Golden Spikes Award watch lists, and this year was a Baseball America and Perfect Game preseason 1st Team All-American. He is sure to add to his award case once this current season ends.

This year, Happ rolled along with a .369/.492/.672 slash line. Like mentioned earlier, he hit 14 homers, knocked in 44 and stole 12 bases in 20 attempts. Defensively, Happ has good speed and a strong arm that could play well on either corner in the pros. He did play 2nd base in 2013, but has not played it since then and is going to be an outfielder at the next level.

He will be the first-ever player from the University of Cincinnati selected in the 1st round. UC coach Ty Neal had glowing words for him to Fox Sports:

“He’s handling the success well and he’s leading these young guys, teaching them right and wrong along the way. He’s got a nice presence to him in the clubhouse and in the dugout….He’s holding guys accountable a little bit but also being a good teammate.”

A strong hitter. An outfielder. A character guy in the clubhouse. These are exactly the types of traits that the Indians always look for when acquiring talent.

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When Nobody Knows Your Name: Potential 2015 Indians Draft Choice Ian Happ

Alan Draper

(Photo courtesy of Cincinnati.com)

Alan Draper

Alan Draper