SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. _ Ian Happ hit the first home run of the 2018 major league season, sending the first pitch of the Cubs-Marlins game over the right-field wall on Opening Day in Miami.
This year, the 2015 first-round pick will start the season with Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs announced Saturday.
"Of course he wasn't happy," manager Joe Maddon said of Happ's response to the demotion, which came after the switch-hitter batted .135 (5 for 52) with 14 strikeouts, a .389 OPS and was extremely vulnerable from the left side this spring.
Maddon said the decision to option Happ, 24, was a "unanimous decision among the room. It's not like it was an outlier. We concluded it was the same thing."
The Cubs concluded Happ would be better served playing every day with Iowa to correct flaws from the left side while primarily playing the outfield. Happ has hit 39 home runs with a .341 on-base percentage in two seasons, but he has struck out 296 times in 751 at-bats.
Happ actually hit better from the left side in 2018 _ .244 with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs. But he struck out 122 times in 283 at-bats compared with a .202 mark with 45 strikeouts in 104 at-bats from the right side.
In the final two months of 2018, Happ hit .192 with 55 strikeouts in 120 at-bats.
It is the first time Happ has been optioned to the minors since he reached the majors on May 13, 2017, less than two years after being selected with the ninth pick out of the University of Cincinnati. His first major league hit was a home run against the Cardinals in St. Louis
The Cubs believe they have enough versatility to cover for Happ's absence and feel strongly he needs to get regular playing time.
"We thought he would not have enough time to work on the adjustments he's been working at so diligently this offseason and spring training," Maddon said. "With a young player, they're never going to quite understand or want to do it, but I've been in involved in this in the past."
Maddon recalled that Cubs sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber and former Angels center fielder Devon White were sent to Triple A to "get things back in order" and rebounded.
"We're really looking out for him, the best for Ian," Maddon said. "Which, in turn, becomes the best for us."
Happ was unavailable for comment Saturday, according to a team official.
Happ's demotion could create more playing time for center fielder Albert Almora Jr. and Schwarber.
"Don't forget (Daniel) Descalso, Ben Zobrist, moving (Jason Heyward) over to (center field)," Maddon said. "There are whole different ways to do this. All this is part of the mix."
Meanwhile, Happ will play primarily in the outfield but also will be asked to play second and third base.
