Happ homers to start MLB season
Ian Happ distinguished himself to start the 2018 Major League Baseball season.
The Mt. Lebanon High School alum tagged the first pitch of Opening Day in the Chicago Cubs’ 8-4 victory against the Marlins on March 29 into the seats.
Happ’s homer not only came on the first pitch of the game, but the first pitch of the 2018 campaign for all Major League teams. He’s the first player to do that since the Red Sox’s Dwight Evans did so in 1986 against Hall of Fame inductee Jack Morris and the Tigers.
Happ’s feat came as no surprise to his former high school manager Patt McCloskey.
“It’s typical Ian,” McCloskey said. “He homers in his first MLB game. He homers on Father’s Day at PNC Park. Ian is the personification of rising to the moment.”
While Happ and the Cubs played the Pirates in their home opener on April 10 at Wrigley Field, he will not return to Pittsburgh until Memorial Day. The Bucs host Chicago for a three-game series May 28-30.