Behind high contact and low strikeout rate, Nico Hoerner stepping up in clutch moments for Chicago Cubs

Chicago Tribune

4 days ago

WASHINGTON — Nico Hoerner's greatest attribute as a hitter at times can be underappreciated in the game.
His success is rooted in a high contact rate and batting average, which have become staples of his offensive production during seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs' top-five offense has shown how, top to bottom, anyone can fuel the lineup. Two months into the season, Hoerner is putting up some of the best numbers of his career, even without slugging a home run.
When evaluating his offensive production as the Cubs sit in first place in the division, Hoerner has been most pleased with his impact on runs scored, in which they led the majors entering Thursday with 5.72 per game.
'We use a lot of ways to score runs as an offensive player — and obviously I would like to slug more and impact a lot more always, we all do,' Hoerner told the Tribune. 'But whether it's the runner in scoring position stuff or stealing bases, base running, I just feel like I've been able to be in the middle of a lot of runs scored and driving runs in.'
His .296 average is seventh-best among the 86 qualified hitters in the National League, while only the San Diego Padres' Luis Arraez and Athletics' Jacob Wilson have a lower strikeout rate than Hoerner's career-best 7.4% out of the 169 qualified major-league hitters.
Manager Craig Counsell described Hoerner as being hardwired to make contact, calling it a gift to have that skill set. On balls in the zone, Hoerner is making contact at an incredible 96.8% rate.
'I didn't go into this year looking to make more contact or strike out less, if anything I want to be more selective and make more good contact more than anything,' Hoerner said. 'But yeah, obviously the ability to make contact always gives you a chance when you're not feeling good or against tough pitching, and especially with guys on base, it's particularly valuable.
'Any kind of batting average-driven stat is going to have its randomness to it, but just the ability to make solid contact gives you a chance, and you roll that out there over and over and trust that over time it's going to contribute.'
Counsell didn't sound concerned by the lack of home runs from Hoerner, noting that he could hit six in the second half and it balances out over the course of the season. Even without a home run, his 15 doubles and one triple have contributed to Hoerner posting the best OPS+ of his career (107), which if he maintains over the final four months would exceed his previous OPS+ high of 106 in 2021, a year he did not hit a home run.
Hoerner has thrived when the Cubs have needed a big hit with runners on base. It taps into his strengths, and he keeps delivering. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith and New York Yankees' Aaron Judge have been better than Hoerner's .426 average with runners in scoring position.
'If there's a guy that you want up and you need the base runner to be moved, you have a chance to drive guys in, especially on third, less than two outs, he's always the best option,' left fielder Ian Happ said. 'And so him having a bunch of these opportunities is really letting that show.
'I think in years past, or in some of those '22-'23 teams in the leadoff spot, he just wasn't getting as many of those opportunities. He was asked to do something different so in this spot, you're seeing that ability really shine through.'