Chicago Cubs getting closer to seeing what they have in Nico Hoerner

Nico Hoerner‘s injury could not have come at a worse time. With the Chicago Cubs entering fire sale mode, and Javier Baez having been traded away, there was a chance for Hoerner to cement his place in their future. Instead, he landed on the Injured List with a strained oblique on July 29, just before Baez was sent to the Mets.

But he is getting set to make up for lost time. Hoerner is set to begin a rehab assignment, and will likely be back with the Cubs before too long.

Nico Hoerner has chance to prove himself to Chicago Cubs

Hoerner has not had much of a chance at the major league level. After starting the season at the Cubs’ minor league camp, he was brought back to the majors on April 22. However, a variety of injuries have impacted his playing time, leaving him with just 152 plate appearances over 39 games.

He had performed well in that time. Hoerner had produced a solid .313/.388/.388 batting line, hitting ten doubles while showing a strong eye at the plate. He was reasonably solid defensively as well, saving two runs in his time at second base.

With the acquisition of Nick Madrigal, Hoerner’s expected role is going to change. The injured second baseman is the future of the position, with the Cubs hoping that Hoerner can handle short. That experiment is likely to begin during the rehab assignment, as Hoerner is likely to see the majority of the action there for the remainder of the season.

These final weeks will be important for the Cubs’ evaluation of Hoerner as well. If he can continue to perform at the solid level he had prior to his latest injury, and he can handle shortstop, he could be the future at the position. Otherwise, the Cubs may come to regard him as a utility infielder.

The Chicago Cubs need to know what they have in Nico Hoerner as they look towards the future. They will get a chance to find out soon.