Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Cubs Predicted to Replace Nico Hoerner With 15 Home Run Infielder

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nelson Hubbell | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 3:50 PM ET

The MLB Draft is set to take place exactly one month from today, and the Chicago Cubs are picking 17th overall.

Right now, experts are making predictions on who each team will pick, and CBS Sports' Mike Axisa has a pick that should surprise some Cubs fans. Axisa's mock draft has Chicago taking University of Tennessee star second baseman Gavin Kilen as a future replacement for Nico Hoerner.

"One of the top performers in the country, Kilen has premium bat-to-ball ability, so much so that he gets himself into trouble by swinging at pitches he shouldn't simply because he knows he can put the ball in play," Axisa wrote.

It is an intriguing pick, to say the least. Hoerner, now 28 years old, was a first-round pick by the Cubs back in 2018 and quickly made the jump to the majors the following year.

He is in his seventh season on the team's MLB roster and has consistently been one of their top hitters since 2021, when he had a batting average of .302. That brings up an interesting question: Does Kilen fit somewhere else on the roster?

Potentially, yes, but Michael Busch and now Matt Shaw have seemingly established themselves as starting-caliber corner infielders. If one of them falters and Kilen's hitting translates to the professional level, Hoerner or others could get shifted around in the Cubs infield to make room for Kilen's bat.

It is important not to downplay the type of season that Gavin Kilen had at Tennessee this year. He just turned 21 in March and hit .357 this season, with a whopping 15 homers, slugging .671, and an on-base percentage of .441.

Kilen is the 17th ranked prospect in the draft and was one of the most dynamic players on a loaded Tennessee roster. That is one big reason why Axisa thinks he may not even make it to the Cubs' spot in the draft.

"College middle infielders who perform as well as Kilen typically do not last long on draft day. He could hear his name called much earlier than No. 17 when the time comes," Axisa said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: