CHICAGO — When Ian Happ made a rare trip to the 10-day IL Monday, the Cubs needed to make a longer-term decision on how they would cover for a player who is almost always available.

Happ, the reigning three-time Gold Glover in left field, has played 679 games at the position for Chicago. He has the highest fielding percentage (.992) of any active left fielder in MLB.

[MORE: Cubs call up top prospect Moisés Ballesteros, place Ian Happ on IL]

He’s also the Cubs’ very own Iron Man — this current IL stint marks just the second time Happ has landed on the shelf in his nine-year career. But the Cubs didn’t want to take any more risks when Happ felt the twinge in his oblique on May 10.

“At this point in the season and with it being an oblique, (we’re) just trying to do the smartest thing,” Happ said Wednesday. “Nobody likes missing time and not being available, but it felt like the right thing to do, so there wasn’t a larger portion of the season missed.”

Luckily for the Cubs, Happ said he feels like he’s progressing quickly. In the meantime, the team has strength in numbers and a multitude of options to shift the lineup.

“You have a lot of confidence in the group — that there’s the ability for us to shuffle around and still be really effective,” Happ said.

While Happ is out, the Cubs are handing left field duties to Seiya Suzuki — who has only played six total games at the position in his MLB career. The Cubs also called up No. 4 prospect Moisés Ballesteros for an extra bat — which came only days after they brought up top pitching prospect Cade Horton.

“There are pieces that are ready to fill in and be a part of it,” Happ said of the talent in the Cubs’ organization. “Every team needs players to come up and make an impact at the big league level.”

Suzuki was once the Cubs’ everyday right fielder, but his fair share of defensive struggles meant he handed the role to Kyle Tucker while transitioning to full-time DH in 2025.

Happ was eager to do what he could to help Suzuki conquer unfamiliar territory in left field.

“We went over positioning in New York, just trying to make sure that he’s in the right spot,” Happ said. “It’s different, left to right. There are some similarities, but it’s a little bit opposite. It’s making sure that his cues are right on where he’s going to stand.”

Happ’s advice must have worked, because Suzuki has so far looked like a natural. He made a sliding grab in Tuesday’s win over the Marlins, which Happ approved of.

“(It was) fantastic. He must have been watching me,” Happ said with a smile. “I’ll help in any way that I can, but he’s good out there. He’s going to be fine.”