Cubs Hitter of the Month: June 2024

Seiya Suzuki can be a very frustrating hitter to watch, but overall, he has put up good numbers. Suzuki also had a high strikeout rate of 32.7%, with a relatively low walk rate. He had a .851 OPS in June, hitting five home runs with twelve RBIs. What's most frustrating with Suzuki is how he often puts up uncompetitive at-bats. It seems like every night, he strikes out looking or will swing and miss at a fastball down the heart of the plate. However, similar to Happ, the numbers tell a different story: he has been a decent hitter.

The defense was abysmal when Suzuki appeared in the right, so he has switched to designated hitter lately. Another positive about Suzuki’s June is his hard-hit rate. His soft contact rate was only 6.6%, which is extremely impressive. He’s hitting the ball hard; however, it’s not always landing away from the defense. He struck out three times as much as he walked but hit two triples. This all may sound negative, but I had a hard time choosing for this award apart from the number one spot. Suzuki was solid this month, but many flaws became apparent. No team is without its flaws, but they’re even more apparent when the whole team forgets how to hit a baseball. It's not a fun time in Chicago right now. 

Ian Happ is a very streaky hitter, but thankfully, he was solid in June. He did have a slump or two, but Happ was so good during the rest of the month that it didn’t matter. Happ hit five home runs in June, with a .244 average and .887 OPS. His strikeout percentage was 27.4%, but he continued to draw walks like usual. To end the month, Happ hit two lead-taking home runs in the eighth inning or later within three days! He’s been clutch, which the team has needed.

The problem is that the rest of the team, besides the other two hitters in this piece, have been rather terrible. Ian Happ is usually a consistent fielder, aside from a few costly errors (especially the one in Milwaukee from this past series). He could be moved at the deadline, even though he has an NTC (No Trade Clause). His versatility as a switch-hitter and the defense could make him a very intriguing trade target for teams looking to compete down the stretch. 

Michael Busch was easily the best choice for hitter of the month, continuing what has been a spectacular season for the rookie first baseman. One thing that he still struggles with is his strikeouts, especially on the high fastball. Craig Counsell has been hitting him second lately, which seems to be a good choice. This year, he has a .289 average and 140 wRC+ in the two-hole. His walk rate was 14.9%, which greatly helps his on-base percentage.

In June, Busch reached base more than 40% of the time and now ranks 23rd in baseball in on-base percentage. Busch only hit two home runs last month, but a slugging of .446 is excellent, given the high batting average of .297. Busch has been playing a lot of first base and now has 3 OAA (Outs above average) on the season. Seiya Suzuki has started to play at DH more, which means Cody Bellinger starts in right field. Thanks to this, Michael Busch is now the clear everyday first baseman, with no worries about Bellinger taking his place. If Busch can limit the strikeouts, his value would increase even more. He’s already producing at a high level, so fans should be excited to see what he does for the rest of the season.