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Ian Happ shared his thoughts on Cody Bellinger’s Cubs return

1 month agoAndy Martinez

Ian Happ wasted no time in rifling off a message to Cody Bellinger.

Moments after seeing that the outfielder was not hitting the open market and instead returning to the Cubs in 2025, the Gold Glove left fielder had to share his excitement.

“I was super excited for our group,” Happ said Sunday night after winning his third straight Gold Glove Award. “I texted him right away and just pumped up that he’s coming back.”

Last offseason, the will-he-or-won’t-he sign saga lingered from the moment the Cubs season ended until halfway through Spring Training when Bellinger agreed to terms with the Cubs on a 3-year deal that includes opt-outs after the first two years.

This time around, there’ll be no such drama — Bellinger will be back in 2025.

“I think for him and his family to be able to know going into the offseason is probably nicer than last year, waiting all the way till the end,” Happ said.

[WATCH: Ian Happ’s top 10 defensive plays of 2024]

Bellinger is an intriguing part of the Cubs plans in 2025.

He provides plenty of versatility with the ability to play first base, right field and center field. The lefty also can be a game-changing bat, like he was in 2023 when he hit 26 home runs, drove in 97 runs, posted a whopping 136 wRC+ and received down-ballot MVP votes.

That wasn’t always the case in 2024 — his power declined as he clubbed just 18 homers with 78 RBI and a 108 wRC+ — but Happ knows what Bellinger can be. Especially since the 29-year-old has missed time the last two years with injuries; in 2024 it was fractured ribs and a fractured finger that kept him sidelined and affected him for most of the year.

And that doesn’t even account for what he brings off the field with his fun, likeable personality.

[Watch Ian Happ’s podcast “The Compound” on Marquee Sports Network every Thursday]

“I’m just super excited for him, for what he means to our group,” Happ said. “He’s gonna go out there and play a bunch of right field for us and be able to hit right in the middle of our lineup and do what he does, and drive in runs.

“I’m excited to have him back. It’s huge for this group, and what he means for us, not only as a baseball player, but as a person and as a teammate.”

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