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Why Cubs' Happ is top choice to bat first in 2021

David Ross was convinced he had a solution to solve the Cubs' ongoing woes in the leadoff spot last season.

In the early days of spring training, the Cubs' rookie manager excitedly announced Kris Bryant was moving to the top of the batting order.

"That leadoff spot has been a real thing around here since Dexter (Fowler) left," Ross said. "The way (Bryant's) handled all the situations he's been in over his career and risen to the occasion a lot of the times, he can handle that. He's all in and thinks he can be an impact player at the top of the order, just like I do.

"I would hate to be on the other side and look at that big boy step into the box to lead things off. K.B.'s a great option."

As it turned out, Bryant was anything but great hitting first.

After COVID-19 put play on pause until late July, Bryant got off to a 1-for-17 start at the plate while dealing with a string of injuries.

In 16 games out of the leadoff spot, Bryant hit .177/.271/.323 and struck out 20 times in 62 at-bats.

"Rizz (Anthony Rizzo) was saying the leadoff spot here's cursed," Bryant said after coming off the injury list (wrist) in August and dropping down to the No. 2 slot in the Cubs' lineup. "But it's different for me in my career to tackle that. And if Ian (Happ's) swinging the bat well, he's going to be the leadoff guy."

As the Cubs look ahead to the 2021 season, Happ is still the top choice to bat first.

Since Fowler exited after the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, Bryant, Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr. have been among the long list of hitters used out of the top spot.

The collective results have been poor, but Happ did show some promise hitting first after taking over for Bryant.

Unless new president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer swings a trade or finds some money for a proven commodity, Happ is likely to stay on top.

"I think Ian's earned that right for now unless there's an acquisition we make that would change anything where you get a true, proven leadoff hitter," Ross said. "I like Happer in a lot of spots. I've talked to him multiple times on where he likes to hit. It doesn't seem to faze him either way.

"I think he's going to be good with whatever, but as it would lay out right now he's probably the guy I would slot in that (leadoff) spot."

Happ batted .258 last season and led the Cubs with 51 hits, 12 home runs and a .361 on-base percentage.

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