Craig Counsell is in his first year as manager of the Chicago Cubs. Prior to this he had been the skipper of the Milwaukee Brewers since 2015. During his first spring training he recently received some injury news that may leave him without one of his top offensive weapons to begin the year.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Sahadev Sharma, writer for The Athletic, reported that Ian Happ is dealing with a mild hamstring injury. He used the word “optimistic” when describing Happ’s availability for Opening Day. Craig Counsell relayed a similar message, but no official timeline was provided.
Craig Counsell has plenty of outfield depth.
A few options in the outfield that Craig Counsell has outside of Ian Happ include Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Mike Tauchman. If needed the likes of Alexander Canario, Brennen Davis, and Kevin Alcántara could also fill in should Happ miss longer than expected.
How does Ian Happ’s injury impact the Milwaukee Brewers?
From a head-to-head standpoint this injury may not impact the Brewers at all. Milwaukee isn’t scheduled to face the Chicago Cubs until May 3. However should Happ’s reported mild hamstring injury turn out to be more serious than expected it’s possible that Craig Counsell could still be without him after the first month of the season.
Opening Day is 25 days away, so it will be worth watching if Ian Happ makes a speedy recovery and if he gets the at-bats and playing time that he needs prior to the regular season starting.
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