For Cubs veteran Hoerner, it's about focusing on strengths

MESA, Ariz. -- Nico Hoerner admitted that the reaction from the fans packed into Wrigley Field took him by surprise. After a defensive gem late in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series, the second baseman heard his full name being chanted, increasing in volume as the Cubs moved closer to a clinching victory.

Hoerner should not be surprised. He has spent the past seven seasons growing into a complete ballplayer in front of the collective eyes of Cubs fans. Hoerner is an elite defender (evidenced by his two Gold Gloves at second base), a skilled baserunner and has leaned into ways to get the most out of his particular abilities as a hitter.

“I was really proud of last year throughout,” Hoerner said earlier this spring. “During the season, I felt like I improved, while just being a good version of myself and embracing the things I do well.”

Hoerner has always been a student of the game and a meticulous, driven worker behind the scenes. Now a veteran in Chicago’s clubhouse, the second baseman fits into the lead-by-example category, but his voice also now carries weight in the moments he does choose to speak up with teammates.

And there Hoerner has never lacked in determination to try to find ways to improve, especially when it comes to his offensive game. One look at the back of his baseball card and it is easy to single out power as the area in need of the most attention, and he has headed into plenty of springs in the past in search of more slug.

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What Hoerner has increasingly learned over the years is that getting away from a strength in the name of addressing a perceived weakness can be a trap. Cubs manager Craig Counsell feels Hoerner has a better grasp now on how to stay true to himself as a player, which in turn should naturally lead to better results.

“Just in the three years that I’ve been here,” Counsell said, “I’ve seen him come into spring with some different goals. And now I think he sits in a place where he understands himself better and how to achieve those goals. Instead of just saying, ‘I want to hit for more power,’ it’s more understanding how his body works around that goal.”

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It is not difficult to see where Hoerner excels as a hitter.

Hoerner is one of baseball’s most difficult hitters to strike out, posting a 7.6% strikeout rate last year that was the third-lowest among qualified batters. That was a drop from sitting in roughly the 10-12% range across ‘22-24. In ‘25, only Luis Arraez (97.3%) and Steven Kwan (97.2%) had higher contact rates on pitches in the strike zone.

With his propensity for consistent contact -- Hoerner ranked fourth in contact rate (89.9%) in MLB last year -- he piled up hits and finished second in the NL batting race (.297) to Trea Turner (.304). The end result was a 114 OPS+ last season for Hoerner, who was in the 101-106 range across the previous four years.

Along the way, Hoerner was not chasing more power, but it still showed up.

While Hoerner ended the season with a .394 slugging percentage, he posted a .418 SLG in the second-half and a .476 SLG over his final 30 games. In that last sample, he did so with only three homers in 134 plate appearances, showing there is more than one avenue to an increase in “power” production. Hoerner was churning out hits at a high rate, upping the SLG in the process.

Hoerner then hit .419 (13-for-31) with a .973 OPS in eight games during Chicago’s playoff run to the NL Division Series.

“I slugged more in the second half,” Hoerner said. “But it didn’t come from swinging harder or doing stuff that’s outside of my skillset as it is. I just felt like I had a better understanding of how I was moving, and I’m excited to build on that.”

Building on last season’s performance would mean a special campaign could be coming for Hoerner.

With a boost from his stellar defense, Hoerner ended his ‘25 showing with a team-leading 6.2 bWAR, which was the highest in a season for a Cubs position player since 2019 (Javier Báez, 6.7). It was the best single-season showing for a primary Cubs second baseman since Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg posted 7.8 bWAR in 1992.

Counsell believes Hoerner’s constant search for improvement can still unlock an even better version in the future.

“I don’t think he’s accomplished [his ceiling], yet,” Counsell said. “But I think you’re always trying to make progress towards something. Sometimes, some things don’t work. You kind of go to the next version. Sometimes, you get to a little bit better answer.”