BIOGRAPHY
Nicholas Mackie Hoerner was born May 13, 1997, in Oakland, California. He is an infielder in the MLB.
Hoerner was selected 24th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft and signed for a $2.72 million signing bonus. He made his professional debut with the Arizona League Cubs, was reassigned to the Eugene Emeralds in June, and was promoted to the South Bend Cubs on July 11. However, he was placed on the disabled list on July 18 with a strained ligament in his left elbow and was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. In 14 games between the three teams prior to his injury, he hit .327 with two home runs, six RBIs, and six stolen bases. After the season, he was assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.
Hoerner began 2019 with the Tennessee Smokies. He was placed on the injured list on April 27 after being hit on his left wrist and returned to play in early July. Over seventy games with the Smokies, he slashed .284/.344/.399 with three home runs, 22 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. The Cubs selected Hoerner's contract and promoted him to the major leagues on September 9, 2019, making him the first player from his draft class to make it to the majors. He made his major league debut that night versus the San Diego Padres. Hoerner got the start at shortstop and went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a single in his first at-bat against Cal Quantrill. Over twenty games for the Cubs, Hoerner batted .282 with three home runs and 17 RBIs. In 2020 for the Cubs, Hoerner slashed .222/.312/.259 with 13 RBIs over 48 games.
Hoerner struggled with oblique injuries in 2021, and appeared in only 44 games for the Cubs. Over 149 at-bats, he slashed .302/.382/.369 with ten doubles, 16 RBIs, and five stolen bases.
During the Cubs' Opening Day game against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 7, 2022, Hoerner hit a two-run home run off of reigning NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, the first home run of the 2022 MLB season and Hoerner's first since 2019. Hoerner had a much improved 2022 season, missing far fewer games and appearing in 135 games. He made 517 plate appearance while slashing .281/.327/.410 with 22 doubles, ten homers, and 55 RBIs. Hoerner played 133 of those games at shortstop and finished second in the National League in Outs Above Average.
After the Cubs signed free agent shortstop Dansby Swanson in December of 2022, it was anticipated that Hoerner would move to second base.
On January 13, 2023, Hoerner agreed to a one-year, $2.525 million contract with the Cubs, avoiding salary arbitration.
In his free time, Nico Hoerner is an avid outdoorsman.