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The Chicago Cubs drafted second baseman Nico Hoerner out of Stanford University in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft.
Just over one year later, Hoerner made his Major League debut as one of the team's September call-ups, and hit .282/.305/.436 with three home runs, 17 RBI, and a 90 OPS+ across 82 plate appearances in 20 games.
It would be a struggle for him to find playing time over the next few seasons, though, from a plethora of injuries that kept him from appearing in 100 or more games until 2022 to inconsistency at the plate, but the last two years have seen the second baseman play in 150-plus games in each.
Healthy over the last two seasons, Hoerner has begun to provide consistent production at the plate, while also giving the Cubs stellar defense that has been a staple throughout his career.
After his 2024 campaign, he performed well enough to finish just outside of the top five in the last second base power rankings from Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, ranking as the sixth-best at the position.
"An elite defender and a dynamic threat on the bases, Nico Hoerner has quietly been one of the most valuable players in baseball over the past three seasons," writes Reuter, "racking up 13.0 WAR in 436 games for the Cubs."
Offensively this year, Hoerner batted .273/.335/.373 with seven home runs, 48 RBI, and a 101 OPS+ across 641 plate appearances in 151 games.
His calling card at the plate is his aversion to striking out, as he carries a career strikeout rate of just 12%, well below the league average of 22.8% since his debut. He cut that down even more this season, striking out only 10.3% of the time.
While he's adept at not striking out, Hoerner is most known for the stellar defense he provides at second base.
Heading into 2024, he accrued 27 Outs Above Average at the keystone, an average of 5.4 per year, and in 2024 he tallied 10 Outs Above Average per Baseball Savant, falling in the 95th percentile for all of MLB, and ranking as the fourth-most among all second basemen.
Hoerner has now shown that he can remain healthy and on the field for a whole season, and because of his consistent offensive production and outstanding defense, he will help Chicago tremendously in their journey to get back into playoff contention.
More must-reads:
- Best MLB trades from the last decade: American League
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- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
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Milwaukee Brewers: Nestor Cortes Gone, Standout Rookie 3B Has Emerged as Gem from Would-Be Lose-Lose Trade
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes was the centerpiece of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ return haul from trading co-closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last December. Eight months later, Cortes is a member of the Padres, logging all of two starts in Milwaukee before injuries sapped his season. Over in New York, Williams lost his closer’s job, got it back, and has had one good month en route to a 5.04 ERA. Without the other part of Milwaukee’s incoming package, then minor-league third baseman Caleb Durbin, the trade would look at this juncture like a lose-lose scenario. Thanks to Durbin, it’s been anything but for the Brewers. Caleb Durbin is Milwaukee Brewers’ diamond in the rough Durbin didn’t make the spring training cut. Instead, the Brewers went with fellow rookie Oliver Dunn as the team’s starting third baseman. Durbin went down to Triple-A Nashville. Dunn didn’t last. After he struggled through the first three weeks of the season, he and Durbin switched places and the latter hasn’t squandered his shot. Following a slow start, he’s turned up the heat at the dish while playing outstanding defense. He’s had an OPS around .800 for over two months now and has his season slashline up to .263/.344/.372. His 2.2 WAR in 86 games played is tied for 10th among all third basemen, making him one of the position’s more valuable players. The Brewers saw plenty of promise in Durbin when they traded for him, coming off a strong season with New York’s Triple-A affiliate. Even though he didn’t, he was a decent candidate to make the team out of spring. The team likely didn’t see a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, which he is. By WAR, he and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin have contributed the same value to their teams, more than any other NL rookies. Cortes, on the other hand, was supposed to be a consistent cog in the rotation. Last year for the Yankees, he made 30 starts and recorded a 3.77 ERA. Instead, he’s still making his way back from injury ahead of start number three this season. In San Diego. Of course, Milwaukee did turn him into outfielder Brandon Lockridge, who will provide depth while Jackson Chourio is hurt. To dump Cortes’ salary, however, they had to attach a prospect, infielder Jorge Quintana. Neither Cortes nor Williams has been what the receiving team hoped. Both will be free agents this offseason. Only the Yankees, however, are at risk of walking away empty-handed. With years of team control remaining, the Brewers have in Durbin what looks to be their third baseman of both the present and future. The trade didn’t deliver according to expectations, but it’s hard to be too upset with the results.
Knee operation: Kirby Dach not yet back on his feet
Two years ago to the day, Canadiens fans were optimistic about Kirby Dach’s future in Montreal: the 6’4 forward had just collected 38 points in 58 games – in his first campaign in Quebec – and many wondered whether Dach had a better chance of establishing himself as a first NHL center than captain Nick Suzuki. The past 730 days have proven otherwise, but that’s not the point this morning. Since joining the Canadiens, Dach has earned a reputation as a fragile player. Virus, shoulder, upper body (concussion?), lower body, knee(ACL and MCL), knee again… Let’s just say that injuries haven’t spared Dach since he arrived in Montreal. In fact, injuries haven’t spared Dach since he started playing hockey. He has never played more than 70 games in a single season, and has only broken the 60-game barrier three times in nine junior or pro seasons. Last February, Dach underwent a second operation on his right knee in the space of 18 months. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may tell us that Kirby Dach is fine,but we still have our doubts. Especially whenyou consider that, with the Canadiens’ recent additions and departures, Kirby Dach is still the team’s second center on the organizational chart. content-ads]Last week, I wondered where Kirby was ? We’ve seen plenty of Habs players skating at the CN Complex this summer, but not Kirby Dach. And I had to work like a monk to catch a glimpse of him in a video filmed at Nick Suzuki’s wedding! Yesterday, I was told that Kirby Dach was spending the summer in Edmonton with Kaiden Guhle – Dach is from Saskatchewan and Guhle is from Alberta – and that Dach was still in rehab. I repeat: five months after his most recent knee operation and some 40 days before the start of practice camp, Kirby Dach is still not recovered and ready to play. Good informants spotted him in an Edmonton gym doing squats with loads that look like the ones I used to take when I went to Econofitness, not the ones an NHL player uses [content-ads]This explains it: when he came to Montreal for his captain’s wedding, Kirby Dach couldn’t – or wouldn’t – skate with his teammates in Brossard. It’s worth noting that Dach is also very quiet on social networks – his last post was in November 2024 – probably in an effort to be forgotten… to go unnoticed. Spending the summer in Alberta, rather than in Montreal (with his chums at Osheaga), makes sense, when you think about it…Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting his season at the same time as everyone else in two months’ time are pretty slim, which is cause for concern for those hoping to see the Canadiens in the playoffs in 2026. Yes, the Kirby Dach problem would be solved if a guy like Mason MacTavish-good offensively, defensively, physically and in the face-off circle-came to Montreal, but let’s just say that the odds of that happening this summer are very low. And you can’t make plans with very improbable things![spacer title=’Prolongation’]Matthew Tkachuk, who was injured last winter while throwing down the gloves at the 4 Nations tournament, underwent surgery last month (hernia and adductor). According to the latest information from Elliotte Friedman, Tkachuk could return to action just before the Olympic Games. Let’s hope Kirby Dach doesn’t have to wait as long as Tkachuk.
Texas' Arch Manning has concern on OL after season-ending injury
Texas, the No. 1 team in the preseason coaches poll, has a big concern for its offensive line with a few weeks to go before it opens the season at Ohio State on Aug. 30. Per On Texas Football, right tackle Andre Cojoe suffered a season-ending injury. Per On3, the injury is believed to be a torn ACL. The third-year offensive tackle has played in four career games and was competing with Brandon Baker for the starting job on the right side. "Texas O-lineman Andre Cojoe suffered what’s feared to be a torn ACL, Inside Texas has learned," wrote Eric Nahlin of On3. "Cojoe was in competition with Brandon Baker for Texas’ right tackle role during preseason camp. Baker is set to win the starting job with Cojoe out for the season. The second-year offensive lineman played in eight games for the Longhorns in 2024, including against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The loss of Cojoe is a big blow to the Longhorns' depth on the offensive line that is tasked with protecting quarterback Arch Manning. On3 projects true freshman Nick Brooks to become the swing tackle behind Baker and starting left tackle Trevor Goosby, a tall order for an 18-year-old in the SEC. Texas comes into the season with high expectations in Manning's first season as a full-time starter. How comfortable Manning is behind his offensive line will play a key role in how efficient the offense is. Texas ranked 118th in sacks given up in 2024 with 37. Those hits took a toll on Quinn Ewers, who played through injuries while leading the Longhorns to the CFP.
Browns' Shedeur Sanders addresses missing practice with arm soreness
Eyebrows were raised when it was learned that Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was held out of Saturday's training-camp practice due to arm soreness. Sanders returned to practice on Monday and noted he was "thankful" to be able to resume on-the-field work. He also said that experiencing such discomfort is nothing new for him. "Yeah, in college, it was often," Sanders explained, as shared by Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "It’s just adjusting to starting and stopping, honestly. That’s all it truly is. Sometimes you go in hot. Then, you’ll wait for a second and then get cold. Then, get back hot and then get cold. My arm and body wasn’t used to that. It’s just an adjustment within my body, within my arm." Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't hidden that Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, has been the team's fourth-choice option at the position behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and 2025 third-rounder Dillon Gabriel. All signs are reportedly pointing to Flacco starting Cleveland's Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Meanwhile, at least one Browns reporter believes that Gabriel, who is listed at 5-foot-11, is "just not a good quarterback" heading into Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on August 8. It remains to be seen if Sanders will be an active participant in Cleveland's joint practice with Carolina on Wednesday. Logic suggests that Stefanski will want Gabriel and Sanders to see plenty of action versus the Panthers on Aug. 8 as long as the first-year pros are healthy that evening. "I think every rep I get in general is valuable," Sanders added during his comments. "We’re definitely taking things up a notch, I would say, with everything. Every rep. Anytime I step on the field, I take it like it could be my last. You don’t know. There were players we were practicing with last week that’s not here no more. It’s more about a bond. It’s more about going all out. It’s more about how you’ll be remembered." As of Monday afternoon, FanDuel Sportsbook had Flacco as the betting favorite at -245 odds to serve as Cleveland's Week 1 QB1. To compare, Sanders was a massive +2000 betting underdog to win the starting job this month. For an article published on Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated mentioned that "it’s been apparent to those watching that Flacco’s got the best command over the offense" during camp. It certainly sounds like Sanders will spend at least a portion of the fall as an backup.
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