Cubs Unlikely To Seek Trade Partner For Nico Hoerner
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Chicago Cubs are less likely to seek a trade partner for second baseman Nico Hoerner. Rosenthal noted that the Cubs needed to move an infielder to create a path for their top prospect, Matt Shaw, and that was accomplished by including Isaac Parades in the package to bring in Kyle Tucker. With Parades out of the lineup, the Cubs will likely prefer to keep Hoerner for the time being. Last season, the 27-year-old held a .273/.335/.373 line with seven home runs and 31 stolen bases. Hoerner opened the season as the leadoff hitter but was eventually pushed down to the bottom half of the lineup. Hoerner also underwent flexor tendon surgery in October but was not given a definite timeline and could miss some time early on. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during Spring Training. If he returns to his spot at the top of the order, Hoerner does have a path to being a reliable top-12 second baseman in category formats, given his elite speed and batting average. He could also be in line to tally a career-high in runs batting in front of Kyle Tucker.
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (elbow) underwent right flexor-tendon surgery on Oct. 11, the team announced on Monday. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister, and there is no timetable for Hoerner's return, although he should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, barring a setback. The 27-year-old was Chicago's starting second baseman all year in 2024 in his sixth season in the big leagues. In a career-high 151 games played, Hoerner slashed .273/.335/.373 with a .708 OPS, seven home runs, 48 RBI, 31 stolen bases and 86 runs scored in his 641 plate appearances. He makes plenty of contact, but it's inconsistent hard contact with little power. As long as Hoerner is healthy in 2025, he'll be a solid source of average, steals and runs scored for fantasy managers.
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI in Wednesday's 13-4 win over the Reds. He also swiped his 17th bag of the season, the third stolen base in his last four games. After stealing 43 bases in 2023, the 27-year-old is on pace for just 27 this year, which has clearly been a disappointment. The gold-glover has a tidy little four-game hit streak going though, so perhaps if he can start getting on base more, then the steals will follow. Nevertheless, you'll continue to start him in season-long fantasy leagues, and he'll bring a .252-4-34-52-17 line into his next contest.
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner put together a solid three-hit performance during Thursday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Hoerner kicked off the scoring with a two-run blast off right-hander Jordan Hicks in the third inning to give Chicago a 2-0 lead. The 27-year-old went 3-for-5 at the plate with a homer and a stolen base in the win. Hoerner is off to a slow start to the season but the hand injury could've contributed to that. We'll see if he can turn it around in the second half.
Nico Hoerner Diagnosed With Small Fracture In Hand
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner has been diagnosed with a small fracture in his hand according to Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Doctors have noted that they are comfortable with him playing if the pain and swelling subsides. The Cubs will make a decision in the coming days about whether or not the 27-year-old should hit the IL. As of now Hoerner should be considered day-to-day. Hoerner has hit for a league average 100 OPS+ in 2024, though his bat has been rather cold since May. Fantasy managers looking for a short term replacement for Hoerner should target David Bote, who has now started at second base for the Cubs two games in a row.
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (hand) will again be absent from the starting lineup on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. The 27-year-old was plunked by a pitch on his hand in Thursday's series opener with the Reds and did not start Friday's 3-2 loss, although he did appear as a pinch-runner. It's a difficult blow for the club if Hoerner misses some time as he has been solid on both ends of the ball this season, hitting .252 with a pair of homers, seven stolen bases, and a 10% BB% that exceeds his excellent 9.5% K%. His offensive production grades out 5% above the league average, as per his 105 wRC%, while his defensive metrics are also above average. David Bote will start at second base on Saturday and hit seventh against Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott.
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing the previous six games with a hamstring injury and made an immediate impact versus the Atlanta Braves. Despite only having one hit in five at-bats, it was a huge one in the bottom of the 10th inning to walk it off for the Cubbies with a RBI single. Hoerner is a strong middle infield option with ability to help across the board with a .267 batting average accompanied by two homers, 13 RBI and five stolen bases. He will look to keep things going in Game 2 of Chicago's series versus the Atlanta Braves and Max Fried on Wednesday.
Chicago Cubs middle infielder Nico Hoerner (hamstring) is back at second base and is hitting sixth in the order on Tuesday against the visiting Atlanta Braves and right-hander Charlie Morton in the series opener. The Cubs now have their starting middle infield back with Hoerner at the keystone and Dansby Swanson at shortstop. This will be Hoerner's first start in more than a week while he dealt with a left-hamstring injury. Hoerner, 27, has been solid at the plate this year and has gone 13-for-45 (.289) with two home runs and five RBI in his 12 games played in May before he suffered a hamstring injury. He might have to knock off a little rust after taking a week off, but fantasy managers in redraft leagues will want to get him back into their lineups. He's hitting .333 in nine career at-bats against Morton.
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This marks the sixth straight game that Hoerner has missed due to tightness in his hamstring. The 27-year-old is considered day-to-day, but it's a bit surprising Hoerner hasn't been placed on the injured list yet. In the meantime, Nick Madrigal will bat seventh and cover second base on Sunday.
Nico Hoerner Remains Out Of Lineup Again On Saturday
Chicago Cubs second baseman/shortstop Nico Hoerner (hamstring) remains out of the Cubs starting lineup on Saturday for the fifth consecutive game. The Cubs are hopeful that their gold glove infielder will not have to spend a stint on the injured list; however, manager Craig Counsell expressed on Friday that he may have to do so if this injury continues to linger. As a result, infielder Miles Mastrobuoni will make his fifth consecutive start at the keystone this afternoon as the Cubs continue a four-game set with their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates and will bat in the eight-hole. The 28-year-old has posted a poor .133/.278/.133 slash line during this stretch, and is best to fade in DFS.
Nico Hoerner
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