MESA, Ariz. – The way Cubs assistant hitting coach Andy Haines tells it, the turning point for Ian Happ’s career may have happened on the backfields of the team’s spring training complex early in the morning on Nov. 3, 2016. While the major league team was still living it up after their historic World Series win, Haines, then the organization’s minor league hitting coordinator, was working with Happ, who was two months removed from wrapping up his first full season in pro ball and in the midst of playing in the Arizona Fall League.



“It was old school. Just out there with a bucket of balls,” Haines said. “We were just going to hit from both sides of the plate, we were going to talk and just figure this out. We had a whole season of information that had taught us and the Fall League is a great learning and teaching environment. You don’t have the pressure of the season in front of you. It’s more just about figuring some...