MWL notes: Happ's switch-hitting a perk

Ian Happ remembers the first time he faced the medium speed on a pitching machine as a left-handed hitter. The Chicago Cubs' switch-hitting first-round Draft pick was 8 years old, and the machine had a decided advantage.

"I couldn't touch it left-handed," Happ said of the encounter with the pitching machine. "I just had no chance."

Now, the 6-foot, 205-pound 21-year-old center fielder has dreams where he's hitting from the left-side of the plate. Emerging as a plus-hitter from each side of the plate for Class A South Bend this season, the 2015 Draft pick is hitting .282 with 17 RBIs in 20 games. Of his 22 hits, 10 have gone for extra bases: four homers, one triple and five doubles.

"It's definitely been a long process," said Happ, who played collegiately at Cincinnati. "I started working on switch-hitting when I was 8. My brother Chris was 6 years older -- when he was 13, 14-years-old, he tried to do it but couldn't stick with it. He ended up being just a right-handed hitter, but he made sure that I stuck with it."

Happ was able to develop into a full-time switch-hitter as a freshman in high school.

"For me, it's been a huge part of my development," Happ said of being a switch-hitter. "I've developed as both a right-handed hitter and a left-handed hitter. Now I would never want to face a lefty throwing curveballs from behind you. Same thing for a right-hander. Switch-hitting has been a big part of my success.

"What's been really big for me, especially in pro ball, and in the summer in college, is seeing more left-handed pitching," he continued. "You just see so many righties in college baseball and definitely in high school."

Happ has developed a comfort level from each side of the plate. There are times when he's on a hot streak from one side of the plate but at the same time hits a rough patch from the other side. Sometimes he's even from both sides, but either way, there seems to be a decided difference in his talents from each side.

"Left-handed, I'm going to use the whole field a little bit better," Happ said. "As a right-handed hitter, I'm more of a middle-to-left guy. I'm definitely two different hitters. The ball comes off the bat two different ways. People tell me the swing looks the same, but it definitely doesn't feel the same."

South Bend hitting coach Jesus Feliciano said that Happ's ability to hit well from each side of the plate is a rare feat in pro ball.

"It's very tough," Feliciano said of switch-hitting. "You have to maintain a certain routine. You have to work hard on both sides of the plate. That's what makes it tougher.

"Ian is a guy who has great knowledge of the game, and he works hard," Feliciano added. "That has really helped him be successful."

In brief

Precious metal: The Fort Wayne TinCaps captured their 10th consecutive victory on Wednesday night, leaving tying the franchise record for most consecutive wins set in 2009. Fort Wayne beat Bowling Green, 8-3, on Tuesday to chalk up its ninth win as pitcher Pete Kelich won his second game in as many starts after returning from Tommy John surgery. Dinelson Lamet was brilliant on the mound in win No. 10, pitching six innings and allowing just three hits and no walks while fanning five.

Fiery numbers: The Dayton Dragons boast three pitchers among the top eight among Midwest League ERA leaders. Tyler Mahle leads the league with a 2.45 ERA, Wyatt Strahan is fifth (2.72) and Tejay Antone is eighth (2.85). Interestingly, Mahle is the only one of the three with a winning record (11-6).

Payback: When Beloit issued an intentional walk to Peoria's Nick Thompson in the sixth inning Tuesday night, it was the first time a Peoria batter received an intentional free pass this season. And even though Thompson came up to the plate with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, the Snappers wish they could have issued Thompson another intentional walk. Instead, he cranked a first-pitch grand slam, sending Peoria on its way to a 6-0 victory.