Nico Hoerner stayed red hot at the plate Wednesday, reaching base three times in the Cubs’ win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, their fourth straight victory. The second baseman went 2-for-4 with a walk, scored three runs and swiped his 28th base of the season. This victory clinched a postseason berth for Chicago, their first since 2020.
With star outfielder Kyle Tucker sidelined amid an extended stay on the injured list, Hoerner has surged over the last month and pushed himself firmly into the National League batting title race.
Over his last 30 games, Hoerner is batting .342 with 39 hits, two home runs and 12 RBIs. He has been even better of late, hitting .410 over his last 15 games and a scorching .517 in his last seven.
That production has lifted his season average to .303, second in the NL behind Trea Turner. With Turner currently out, Hoerner has a clear opportunity to seize his first career batting crown before the season wraps up.
It’s not just a late-season surge — Hoerner has been a steady force all year. He has set career highs in batting average (.303), OPS+ (119) and WAR (6.3).
The 2023 Gold Glove winner has remained sharp defensively, ranking 10th in the majors in Outs Above Average with 14 and 12th in Fielding Run Value with 12.
As the playoffs near, power won't be an issue for Chicago, with six Cubs already topping 20 home runs. Not known for his power, Hoerner will be able to set the table at the top of the lineup for Chicago's sluggers in the postseason.