Chicago Cubs fans react to report that vision training helped increase Ian Happ's offensive numbers: "Wonder why more players don't do it"

Ian Happ has been a staple in the Chicago Cubs outfield. In his six seasons with the Cubs so far, Happ has hit 104 home runs, while hitting .249 and swiping 37 bases.

Last season, he was voted into his first All-Star game. Happ was coming off a career-high batting average (.271), hits (155), runs (72), doubles (42), and RBIs (72). The reason for his success last season? Vision training.

So how did Happ use vision training to get better at the plate? Well, one of the biggest things he claims has helped him is juggling hacky sacks before the game and using focus stickers on the inside of his helmet when he's on deck.

While athletes train their bodies every day, you don't often hear about athletes training their vision. And with a sport like baseball, vision is one of the most important things a player can have. Imagine trying to hit something you can't easily track.

Some fans are questioning why more players don't engage in vision training. Who knows how much better a hitter could be if they train their eyes like they do the rest of their body?

Other fans are calling for the Chicago Cubs to extend him. He's a dedicated player who has started to find himself both offensively and defensively. They don't want to see him walk in free agency when his contract is up.

The Chicago Cubs have to make a decision on Ian Happ

Ian Happ hasn't been the most consistent player for the Cubs. Up until 2021, he was a middle-of-the-road outfielder. But since 2021, he's been a sight to see.

In 2021 Happ saw a lot more consistent playing time. This, along with the vision training, has been huge. He's gone from a 30.8% strikeout rate to just 23.2% last season.

Cubs fans are used to letting core members of their team sign with others in free agency. That was the case for Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, and Anthony Rizzo. It was tough for the fans to see their favorites leave.

They are ready for this small rebuild to be over and make some noise in the National League Central. With his improvements, fans are eager to see their club extend Ian Happ.

About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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