With Jon Lester no longer wearing a Cubs uniform this upcoming season, Ian Happ shares how the veteran made an impact on himself and many other players’ careers on Off The Mound with Ryan Dempster.

Lester signed a one-year deal with the Nationals in the off-season. Happ learned some valuable lessons from Lester to be a true professional playing baseball.

“Jon taught me how to be a pro. From that first year in 2017, he really took me under his wing and just taught me all of the little things that go into preparing. He was the most prepared player, the most prepared pitcher I’ve ever seen. The way that he went about his bullpens, the way he went about his day before prep, I think he taught a lot of guys that he played with to do that and it was so amazing to watch him compete,” Happ said. “He was one of the guys that you would run through a wall for every day being behind him and it was such a privilege to get to play with him for a few years and to get to experience that.”

Happ believes high honors will come for Lester after he retires.

“For me, he’s a no doubt Hall of Famer,” Happ said. “He changed this organization and I can’t say enough good things on what he’s done for me personally as a baseball player and as a person.”

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