For the most part, the Chicago Cubs built themselves to contention via the MLB Draft. They’ll look to continue seeing draftees through the minors and into the majors with an infielder and 24th overall pick Nico Hoerner.
The list of capable big league players to have been drafted by the Chicago Cubs over the past several years is impressive. It includes Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora Jr. and Ian Happ. The Cubs hope Nico Hoerner will join that list in the next few years too.
Favoring bats in the draft
Selecting bats over pitching was a formula that Theo Epstein and his front office were upfront with from the beginning. They intended to accumulate good hitters in the minor leagues, and when the time came, trade some off for pitching.
Here’s #Cubs 1st Round Draft Pick, Nico Hoerner, Making A Ridiculous Defensive Play #EverybodyIn https://t.co/gv8briW4f9 pic.twitter.com/oh9UTnweAJ
— ✶ Sports Mockery ✶ (@sportsmockery) June 5, 2018
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The system worked well for the Cubs—perhaps best exemplified by the 2013 MLB Draft and its fallout.
Heading into the 2013 MLB Draft, it was a given that pitcher Mark Appel and third baseman Kris Bryant would go one and two.
The Houston Astros picked first and selected Mark Appel, conceding Kris Bryant to the Chicago Cubs. Bryant would go on to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, and a World Series ring. Appel—plagued with command issues and injury—retired from baseball without having thrown a major league pitch.
Pitchers tend to be more fragile as prospects. Hitters are easier to understand, and project than pitchers are. Hitters also often have a lower risk for injury.
What Hoerner brings to the table
Hoerner mainly played shortstop for Stanford in college. However, he can play multiple positions around the diamond which bodes well with Joe Maddon’s Cubs.
The right-handed hitter hits for average well, having hit .349 in his most recent season. But the Cubs would like to see the power continue to improve as he climbs the minor league ranks. Improved power is a reasonable expectation from Hoerner; his slugging percentage climbed from .311 to .496 in his three years at Stanford. However, he only hit three home runs over those three years.
Next: Boston Red Sox: 2018 MLB Draft recap day one
Hoerner is the latest testament to the Chicago Cubs being one of the most capable teams in the draft. But only time will tell if Hoerner can be what the Cubs want him to be.