Nico Hoerner is in his seventh year with the Chicago Cubs and has consistently been an important glue guy every single year. He has not strayed from that role this season. He has continued to showcase his elite speed, outstanding fielding, and reliable bat at the plate. Although he is having an exceptional season, he has been sparingly talked about around the league.
Nico Hoerner’s Stellar Offense
Hoerner has spent the majority of this season in the Cubs’ 6 or 7-hole, but frankly, he is a better player than that. The one downside to Hoerner’s offense is his power. While he had seven homers last year and nine two years ago, he hasn’t hit any this year. This is undoubtedly the main reason he isn’t talked about more. The home run ball is so valuable in today’s game that if a player can’t hit them, they are automatically seen as less valuable. Although his power is below average, he still brings a lot of value to the plate.
This year, Hoerner is hitting .288 with a .397 AVG with RISP. This is an incredible number for anyone and is part of the reason he holds so much value. Additionally, he is in the 99th percentile in K% at only 7.1%. He does everything he can to put the ball in play, which puts him and the team in the best position possible. With a low strikeout rate and a high average, especially with RISP, he gives the Cubs a stable bat in the back end of their lineup. This is very important to any team. Having a guy like Hoerner in the 7-hole ensures the lineup is more balanced and not top-heavy. Not only does he have a solid bat, but he also possesses top-end speed.
He has showcased his speed every year he has played, and that hasn’t changed this year. He ranks in the 91st percentile in base running run value. Along with that, he has 14 stolen bases on the year, ranking 16th in MLB. His speed has always been top-notch and has always played an important role in his game. Even though his offensive value is much better than it appears, it may not even be the best part of his game.
Hoerner’s Gold Glove Defense
The most underrated part of Hoerner’s game is his defensive prowess. Over the past five years, the Stanford product has been one of if not the best defensive second basemen in MLB. In 2023, he won his first Gold Glove Award. He followed that up in 2024 with 10 outs above average, putting him 4th in all of MLB. He has only improved this season as he already has 7 outs above average and 5 defensive runs saved. Both of these numbers rank first in the majors. Some of his plays this year have been out of this world. Take his recent play against the Pittsburgh Pirates as an example.
Dansby Swanson on Nico Hoerner’s diving catch to keep the game tied in extras.
“I don’t think people realize how hard that is.” pic.twitter.com/zRvuTbacXS
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 15, 2025
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He has made plays like this all year, and they seem like regular occurrences.
While Nico Hoerner may not have a case for the All-Star Game because of guys like Ketel Marte and Brendan Donovan, his season so far should not be overlooked. His production at the plate with RISP, and his strong case for another gold glove put him towards the top of his position group. While this might not seem super clear, he has the numbers and the film to back it up.
Main Photo Credit: © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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