CHICAGO -- The more one watches Nico Hoerner play, the more the appreciation grows for what the Cubs’ second baseman can do on a diamond. Fans on the North Side have witnessed him turn into the heart and soul of the ballclub over the better part of a decade and have seen the impact he can make in so many facets of the game.
No moment better captured Cubs fans’ reverence for Hoerner than late in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Padres last October. In the wake of a leaping catch, Hoerner returned to his position and soon heard the Wrigley Field faithful joining together in a chant of his full name.
“That moment really did catch me off guard,” Hoerner said. “That was absolutely a special day and an important moment to remember, for sure.”
The Cubs are now giving Hoerner the chance to continue on a path to becoming a franchise icon, announcing Sunday that they signed him to a six-year extension. Following the game against the Nationals, the team held a press conference to celebrate the long-term contract, and Hoerner had his parents, fiancée and a large group of teammates in attendance.
Hoerner was set to reach free agency next offseason, but his new contract is worth $141 million and includes deferrals, sources told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. It is the fourth-largest guaranteed contract for a second baseman, trailing only Robinson Canó (10 years, $240 million), Marcus Semien (7 years, $175 million) and Jose Altuve (7 years, $163.5 million).
The deal, which includes a full no-trade clause, crossed the finish line during the Cubs’ game on Opening Day. The start of the season was a deadline for both sides, but president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said the momentum that had picked up over the last two weeks allowed for the deal to come together.
“Whenever you make this kind of investment in a player,” Hoyer said, “you want to invest in someone that you know is going to keep trying to get better every day. You want to invest in someone that’s going to be a great teammate. And Nico has all those things. Super easy decision for us.”
This is the second extension Chicago has done with the 28-year-old Hoerner, who was a first-round pick by the team in the 2018 MLB Draft. Prior to Opening Day in ‘23, the Cubs inked him to a three-year, $35 million pact.
Chicago’s front office wanted to ensure that he would remain locked in as a piece of the club’s core.
Hoerner’s deal comes after the Cubs also signed star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to a six-year, $115 million extension on Opening Day. They are both signed through 2032, while third baseman Alex Bregman is under contract through ‘30 and shortstop Dansby Swanson is signed through ‘29.
“Those are things that can create confidence, but also responsibility for guys,” Hoerner said of the Cubs’ efforts to create a core group. “That’s a really powerful thing, when the organization has put that much trust and commitment into you.”
Hoerner was the first player from the entire ‘18 Draft class to reach the Major Leagues when he debuted the following year, and now is in a position to climb the ranks of most seasons spent in a Cubs uniform.
Hoerner’s extension creates the potential for 14 years on the North Side. Only 11 players have suited up for the Cubs in that many campaigns, including club legends like Ernie Banks (19), Billy Williams (16), Ryne Sandberg (15) and Ron Santo (14). Those four each have a statue outside Wrigley Field.
One reason to commit to Hoerner is that he embodies the identity of this current Cubs group.
Chicago’s roster is built around athleticism, speed and defense. Hoerner excels in each of those areas. He has established himself as one of baseball’s elite defenders -- winning two Gold Glove Awards to date -- and is one of the game’s most difficult players to strike out. Hoerner blends his exceptional contact ability and defensive skill with a knack for stealing bases as well.
“Nico has shown everybody how, if you do a lot of things really well, it adds up,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “The sum of that is just an excellent player. That’s how we got here.”
Last season, Hoerner finished second to Trea Turner in the NL batting race with a .297 average and only struck out 49 times in 649 plate appearances (7.6%). He reached base at a .345 clip and ended with 29 doubles, 61 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. In the postseason, Hoerner caught fire, hitting .419 (13-for-31) with a .972 OPS in Chicago’s eight-game run.
The 6.2 wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference) that Hoerner posted in ‘25 not only led the team, but was the highest bWAR for a Cubs position player since 2019 (6.7 by Javier Báez) and the most for a primary Cubs second baseman since 1992 (7.8 by Sandberg).
That is just a one-year snapshot into why the Cubs would want to invest long-term in Hoerner.
“He’s a special player,” Bregman said. “He does everything well on the field, honestly. He makes a lot of contact. He plays elite defense. Hits the ball from line to line. He doesn’t strike out. Those kinds of things win baseball games in the playoffs.”
There are more reasons found outside of a box score and also behind the scenes. Hoerner has an elite in-game awareness for small details. He is also a tireless worker with his pregame routine, leading by example in that arena. Hoerner has also learned when his voice can make an impact in the dugout or clubhouse.
With another World Series trophy as the stated goal, the Cubs wanted to make sure they kept that type of leader in the fold for years to come.
“There’d be nothing more rewarding and satisfying,” Hoerner said, “than winning a championship in the place that I started.”