The Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins had the earliest start time of Major League Baseball’s Opening Day this year, and Ian Happ wasted no time bringing baseball back.
Happ homered on the first pitch of the game off Marlins pitcher Jose Urena, which meant the first pitch of the 2018 regular season was sent into the stands.
Let’s settle in and enjoy the first pitch of the 2018 @MLB seaso— pic.twitter.com/VdNov3BeTx
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 29, 2018
The moment was made more surreal by WGN color commentator Jim Deshaies pointing out that Happ had five leadoff home runs in spring training and saying, “I expect him to take a pretty healthy cut here if he gets a juicy-looking first-pitch fastball from Urena.”
The Cubs, less than 18 months removed from their famous 2016 World Series title, had some more fun on Twitter:
.@ihapp_1 leads @MLB in the following categories:
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 29, 2018
Batting average
Hits
Runs
Home Runs
Runs Batted In
Slugging Percentage
On-Base Percentage
OPS
what are we missing
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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