The Cubs have attempted to retool their roster this winter in an effort to get back to the playoffs for the first time in a 162-game season since 2018. As they’ve done so, one of the biggest question marks facing the team this winter has been the status of second baseman Nico Hoerner. The Cubs revealed in late October that Hoerner had undergone flexor tendon surgery without providing a timeline for his return. The injury ultimately didn’t stop teams such as the Mariners from pursuing Hoerner on the trade market this winter as the Cubs tried to open up a spot on the infield for top prospect Matt Shaw, but rumors of a deal died down after Chicago shipped third baseman Isaac Paredes to Houston as part of the Kyle Tucker trade.
With those trade rumors seemingly a thing of the past, Hoerner figures to be in the Cubs organization on Opening Day 2025. Whether or not he’ll be in the lineup is another matter, however. As noted by Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, Hoerner discussed his injury and rehab in detail at the Cubs Convention in Chicago earlier today. Per Montemurro, Hoerner noted that he played through the issue throughout the 2024 campaign and that it had the largest impact on his throwing in the field.
That reality is borne out in his defensive metrics last year. According to Statcast, the fielding that earned Hoerner a Gold Glove award in 2023 faltered somewhat last year. While his +10 Outs Above Average remained in this 95th percentile of all MLB fielders last year, Hoerner’s Fielding Run Value dipped from +11 in 2023 to +8 in 2024. Looking specifically at his arm strength, Hoerner saw his throws lose more than three ticks of velocity year-over-year as he averaged 79.1 mph on his throws in 2023 but just 75.7 mph in 2024.
Given how noticeably the injury was impacting Hoerner’s elite work on the infield, it’s not necessarily surprising that he and the Cubs are taking his rehab process slowly. As relayed by Montemurro, Hoerner has not yet begun a throwing program or hitting since he went under the knife back in October. With the Cubs’ first game of the 2025 season against the Dodgers in Tokyo just two months away, that casts some doubt on the second baseman’s ability to be ready for the start of Chicago’s season. To that end, Montemurro reports that Hoerner not only could not answer whether or not he’d be ready for the Tokyo Series in March, but also couldn’t comment on whether or not he’d be back on the field in time for the Cubs’ home opener on April 4.
That leaves Hoerner missing at least the season’s first couple of weeks on the table, and without a clear timeline for return the possibility of a somewhat longer absence cannot be fully ruled out. With Shaw seemingly set to take over for Paredes at third base, the club’s internal options to fill in for Hoerner currently appear to be Rule 5 draft pick Gage Workman and utility infielder Vidal Brujan. Those options don’t exactly inspire confidence as fill-ins for Hoerner in the event he’s not ready for the start of the season, so it’s not necessarily a surprise that the Cubs appear to be focused on bolstering their bench mix ahead of Spring Training. Chicago was connected to Yoán Moncada earlier this month, and other players such as Paul DeJong and Jose Iglesias could also make sense as depth options who could fill in for Hoerner to start the season and provide insurance in case Shaw struggles in his first taste of big league action.
If they think Hoerner will be ready by mid-April, maybe Triantos is a better option than Gage or Vidal?
Anybody is better than those 2 .
Aloha folks, I wish the Cubs could have a whole season injury free from Nico. He’s productive in his role at the plate and of course in the field. This may be his last year, possibly a trade candidate. Good luck Nico! Mahalo
Aloha my friend, hope all is well.
Aloha Jiggs! What is our Cubs doing? I’m afraid before Jed runs away he’ll trade more of our good young talent away for rentals! You still at your old email address? I miss the days of Carrie’s Muskat blog for we Cub folks. Hope your Cardinal family members aren’t giving you too hard a time, lol ! Mahalo!
Meanwhile, they also have no real closer. Another 83 win season most likely.
I predict that within two weeks they will sign one of Yates, Estevez and Scott, unless they somehow are able to trade for a reliever from the Padres, which seems very unlikely.
They need to win 91 games. Tucker should add four. Sure need to add a late inning arm and another infielder. I’m not for Shaw starting the season in the majors.
Ohhh no!! A Cubs article after a Cards article, must be a conspiracy by the writers. Let me send them a report that they can’t find in their email because I never sent it, then ill whine to Mark on a subscriber article I can’t even read because I don’t subscribe.
Uhhhh…ok?
Oh, blackpink, you’ve changed your name again? Lol.
I think he’s referring to bita who complains regularly about imaginary Cub ‘bias’ on here.
I think this team needs more right handed pop in the lineup. Why not make an acceptable offer to Alonso and move Busch to 3B and let Nico and Shaw share time at 2B and Shaw can spell Busch at 3B occasionally. The club should still have enough left in the budget without going into the luxury tax level to sign a 2nd tier closer to start the season and could possibly trade Nico or Suzuki and the 2nd tier closer at the deadline to save $ and afford a 1st tier closer. If it was Suzuki that gets traded, there are right handed OF prospects in the club’s minor league system that need playing time, besides it’s been reported that Suzuki is not thrilled about being a primary DH with the addition of Tucker as the everyday RG. Would love to see the L/R power combination of Tucker and Alonso hitting in the 3 and 4 lineup spots.
They’re not moving Busch. 3rd base never worked for him in LA and by the middle of last season, his defense at first base had improved dramatically.
Correction: Meant Tucker as the everyday RF in the above post.
Could become the Mariners 3rd baseman. We will see if the budget constrained ownership can pull out a deal. They like him a lot.
Gage workman is the goat I guess