The Chicago Cubs entered the season hoping to field one of the National League’s most balanced lineups.
Emerging star Pete Crow-Armstrong and newcomer Alex Bregman were set to anchor the batting order along with veteran second baseman Nico Hoerner, who earned MVP Award votes after batting .297 last season.
When the Cubs have been at their best over the past several seasons, Hoerner’s ability to put the ball in play and produce in key situations has often been a driving force. And that makes his recent struggles particularly concerning for a team trying to maintain its position in a crowded playoff race.
Chicago Cubs Boss Jed Hoyer Sends Nico Hoerner ‘Absence’ Message
The Cubs’ recent offensive inconsistency has placed some significant focus on Hoerner’s performance this season, which started off strong but has devolved into a concerning slump.
Earlier this month, the team benched Hoerner in hopes that it could spark a turnaround as his slash line dipped to .238/.315/.332 on the year.
“The Cubs will go with Pedro Ramirez at second base in the series finale while the slumping Hoerner receives his first day off since May 25,” CBS Sports reported at the time. “While starting each of the Cubs’ last 17 games, Hoerner slashed just .200/.250/.229 with zero home runs, two stolen bases, three RBI and three runs.”
Those statistics are well below the standards Hoerner has established during his career and they have prompted some comments from Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.
“Our offense misses those hits, and obviously last year he was so good with guys in scoring position,” Hoyer said of Hoerner, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro. “He provides an element that the rest of the group doesn’t have as much, and when he’s not doing that, we feel the absence of that.”
The comments reflect the value Hoerner brings beyond traditional power numbers. His ability to make contact, move runners and deliver timely hits has long been one of the defining characteristics of Chicago’s offense.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, those contributions have been difficult to find lately.
Nico Hoerner’s Offensive Slump Becoming Harder To Ignore As Chicago Cubs Struggle
Hoyer’s comments served as a reminder of how highly the Cubs view their veteran infielder. Rather than questioning his long-term role, the executive emphasized how much the lineup misses the unique skill set Hoerner typically provides.
“Hoerner’s offensive woes have been one of the most confounding parts of the teamwide slump,” Montemurro added. “His elite contact ability is a driving force behind his success. But a 50.8% ground-ball rate over this stretch is kneecapping Hoerner.”
For Chicago, the hope is that the slump proves temporary. If Hoerner can return to the form that made him one of the club’s most reliable hitters with runners in scoring position last season, it could provide a significant boost for a Cubs offense searching for greater consistency down the stretch.