Nico Hoerner

Nicholas “Nico” Mackie Hoerner, born on May 13, 1997, in Oakland, California, embarked on his professional baseball journey after a successful collegiate career. He attended Head-Royce School, where he excelled in multiple sports before committing to Stanford University for college baseball. As a freshman in 2016, Hoerner started 53 games at second base for the Stanford Cardinal, batting .254 with 53 hits and 24 RBIs. He further developed his skills playing in the Northwoods League and later the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was named a league all-star in 2017. His consistent performance at Stanford, where he was named to the All-Pac-12 team in both 2017 and 2018, led to him being a highly-touted prospect.

Hoerner was drafted 24th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2018 MLB draft, signing for a $2.72 million bonus. He quickly ascended through the minor league ranks, making his professional debut in the Arizona League before promotions to the Eugene Emeralds and South Bend Cubs. Despite an elbow injury in 2018, he bounced back to play for the Tennessee Smokies in 2019, batting .284. His expedited path to the majors saw him debut for the Chicago Cubs on September 9, 2019, becoming the first player from his draft class to reach MLB. In his debut, he impressive with three hits and four RBIs against the San Diego Padres. He continued to build on this, recording 11 RBIs in his first six career games, a franchise record.

His career with the Cubs has been marked by steady improvement and key achievements. In 2023, Hoerner earned his first career N.L. Gold Glove Award at second base, showcasing his defensive excellence. He signed a three-year contract extension with the Cubs in March 2023, cementing his role with the team. That same year, he notably stole 43 bases, the most by a Cub since Juan Pierre in 2006, and became only the fourth player in franchise history to steal 40 bases and record 60 RBIs in a season. In 2024, he continued to be a significant contributor, leading the Cubs in hits (159), doubles (35), and stolen bases (31) and ranking among the top qualified second basemen in various offensive categories. His continuous performance has established him as a cornerstone player for the Chicago Cubs.