Cubs center fielder Ian Happ joined Off The Mound with Ryan Dempster on Friday on Marquee Sports Network to share and reflect on the 2020 shortened season.

The Cubs finished the 2020 season winning the NL Central division and losing in the first round of the postseason to the Marlins. With only 60 games in 2020, Happ felt that his teammates had to do everything they could to be prepared.

“You had to keep yourself ready. You had to stay ready for so many months and then quick spring training, quick season, and we finally felt like we were doing everything right. We would get a hold of the protocols, everything starts to have a flow to it and then before you know it, it’s over,” Happ said. 

Happ appreciates manager David Ross placing trust in him from the beginning of the season to earn an everyday role.

“Rossy having that faith in me, to be able to put in the lineup every day, it was something that I’m really grateful for his trust. The communication that he had from day one whether it was through the first spring training or then into summer camp and then into the season, that was a huge thing for me. Being drafted as a second basemen, working on that, getting to the big leagues, playing multiple positions and then really locking one down I think that’s the highest compliment.”

Tune in every Friday for a new episode of Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster on Marquee Sports Network.