Jim Deshaies and Ron Darling predicted Ian Happ's leadoff home run
The 2018 MLB season started with a bang -- literally. As the Cubs and Marlins took the field on Thursday at 12:40 p.m. ET, José Ureña threw the first pitch of the Major League season ... and
While some -- like this reporter who promised to jump in a lake if it happened -- weren't prepared, others were predicting it. Cubs broadcaster Jim Deshaies was ready. Before Happ stepped to the plate, Deshaies noted that the infielder/outfielder hit seven dingers in Spring Training to tie for the MLB league lead (with
Well, he did. Check out the top of the post for the proof.
Deshaies wasn't the only one. SNY broadcaster and MLB Network commentator Ron Darling predicted that Happ was going to hit the first home run of the season. When asked if he would start the season with a dinger, Darling said, "Could be." Watch at the 1 minute mark for this prediction:
After hitting five leadoff homers in Spring Training -- and given the prevalance of dingers in today's game -- will Happ threaten Alfonso Soriano's big league record of 13 this year?