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Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Behind high contact and low strikeout rate, Nico Hoerner stepping up in clutch moments for Chicago Cubs
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.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Justin Turner's 1st extra-base hit of the season gives the Chicago Cubs a 5-4 walk-off win
Hits, let alone extra-base hits, had been elusive for Justin Turner. His part-time role off the Chicago Cubs' bench hasn't led to many consistent opportunities. Six weeks into the season, Turner was still looking for his first extra-base hit when he stepped into the batter's box with one out and runners on the corners in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday against the Miami Marlins. Advertisement Turner whiffed at right-hander Jesús Tinoco's first-pitch slider down and away but didn't miss when Tinoco went right back to the same pitch that, this time, caught too much of the edge of the plate. Turner pulled it down the left-field line to score Vidal Bruján and Nico Hoerner for a two-run, walk-off double to put the Cubs on top of the Marlins, 5-4. Turner's heroics were set up by poor defense and timely hitting. A fielding error by Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards on a grounder off Carson Kelly's bat and a five-pitch walk from Dansby Swanson opened the bottom of the ninth. Moisés Ballesteros, in his MLB debut, beat out a double-play ball at first to give the Cubs runners on the corners. Hoerner, on his 28th birthday, followed with an RBI single to center field to cut Miami's lead to 4-3 and bring up Turner, who entered in the seventh as a pinch hitter and remained at third base. 'It doesn't matter how good or bad you're feeling, you've got to show up and work every day, if you take anything for granted this game will punish you,' Turner said. 'Obviously, I've been going through it and not going to make any excuses. I've got to be better, but at the same time, just got to show up and put in the work every day and finally got a good result tonight.' Before his game-winning double, Turner was one of only two players among the 306 MLB hitters with at least 70 plate appearances who hadn't recorded an extra-base hit. The Cubs (25-18) will gladly take the timing of the 40-year-old's first of the year as they go for the series sweep Wednesday. Advertisement Photos: Chicago Cubs walk off the Miami Marlins in a 5-4 win at Wrigley Field 'I felt close for a while now, just haven't really clicked,' Turner said. 'I feel like the at-bats have been competitive, just not finishing with good results. At-bats are going a lot longer than they should because I should be moving pitches forward that I'm fouling off right now. It feels good to move one forward and be a big part of that 'W' tonight.' Despite his struggles — batting .155 with a .271 on-base percentage on the season entering the game — Turner has had a knack for coming through when there are runners in scoring position. Prior to his game-winning hit, Turner was 6-for-12 with seven RBIs, six walks, one strikeout and two sacrifice fly balls in those situations. 'It just feels like he hasn't had anything fall, just the quality of his at-bats to the eye test is still so impressive to me, especially when you're not getting at-bats every day,' Hoerner said. 'His walk earlier in the game, to take a close 3-2 pitch when you're not in the flow of the game and everything, those kinds of things are really impressive to us, his teammates. Advertisement 'You look at a runner on third, less than two outs, tying run on third, there's no one else I'd rather have up in that situation than him as a guy who's going to make contact, going to hit a ball hard in the air somewhere, a super pro, awesome teammate, and won the game for us.' The Cubs' comeback in the ninth wouldn't have happened without veteran reliever Ryan Pressly stepping up to record the final out in the seventh and stop the Marlins from tacking on to their lead. Right-hander Julian Merryweather labored in the inning. He retired two of the seven batters he faced, allowing the go-ahead runs to score on Connor Norby's solo home run and Jesús Sánchez's RBI single. Two walks and the 30-pitch mark ended Merryweather's outing to give way to Pressly. Pressly quickly got ahead on Kyle Stowers and punched him out with an elevated fastball to strand runners on first and second base, exactly the pitch and location the Cubs have wanted him to target lately. Related Articles Advertisement 'I've got to go out there and execute pitches, been getting pretty predictable lately, so I've been working on a lot of things,' Pressly said. 'I mean, it's never fun letting your teammates down, especially the fans too. You go out there and get your head kicked in, you're not going to sleep anyway, so you might as well get to the field early and start working on stuff. So that's what I did and been working ever since. 'It's a really crappy feeling when you're out there and it gets really lonely. So when you go out there and that happens to you, you want to get back out there as fast as you can, and go out there and start working on things.' Tuesday's victory marked the team's second walk-off at Wrigley Field, where 38,083 fans watched how quickly the vibes shifted as the bottom of the ninth progressed. It's an energy the Cubs believe can carry through the regular season and could create more thrilling moments on a grander stage in October. 'It's hard to put a finger on it, momentum in baseball is kind of a funny thing, you can't really try harder,' Hoerner said. 'The bats didn't quite line up through eight innings, and then you just give it your best in the ninth. But you feel that energy starting to build. And I guess, as a player, it's the kind of energy that it doesn't make you nervous. It makes you excited about just what could happen, like, the excitement of what's possible and just how fun that would be if we made this happen. 'Sometimes it doesn't, but it did tonight, and it was a blast.'
Mint
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Crow-Armstrong drives in 6 as the Cubs pound the White Sox 13-3 at a windy Wrigley Field
CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong homered and drove in a career-high six runs, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox 13-3 on Friday in the first meeting of the season between the crosstown rivals. Seiya Suzuki had two hits and two RBIs for the NL Central-leading Cubs on a warm and windy afternoon at Wrigley Field. Nico Hoerner scored three times, and Cade Horton (2-0) pitched five innings of three-run ball in his first career start. The Cubs earned their sixth consecutive win against the White Sox, matching a franchise record for the series. Miguel Vargas went deep twice for the White Sox in his first career multihomer game. He also matched a career high with four hits. Vargas connected for a two-run drive in the first and a solo drive in the third. But the Cubs went ahead to stay with six runs in the second against Shane Smith (1-3). With one out and runners on second and third, Michael Busch used a nifty slide to score on Moisés Ballesteros' chopper to first baseman Andrew Vaughn. Hoerner then hit a grounder to shortstop Chase Meidroth, who made a strong throw to the plate that was dropped by catcher Matt Thaiss for an error. After Jon Berti struck out looking, Crow-Armstrong hit a three-run drive to right for his 12th homer. Suzuki tacked on an RBI single for a 6-2 lead. Smith was charged with one earned run and seven hits in five innings. The rookie right-hander struck out five and walked one. Crow-Armstrong also drove in Hoerner with a wind-aided single in the sixth, and then singled home two more runs in the seventh for a 10-3 lead. Ballesteros hit an RBI single in the eighth for his first hit in his second major league game. Smith has surrendered two homers in 48 1/3 innings in his first big league season. He allowed a three-run shot by Boston's Rafael Devers on April 19. White Sox right-hander Sean Burke (2-4, 4.15 ERA) and Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd (3-2, 2.78 ERA) take the mound on Saturday.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Crow-Armstrong drives in 6 as the Cubs pound the White Sox 13-3 at a windy Wrigley Field
CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong homered and drove in a career-high six runs, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox 13-3 on Friday in the first meeting of the season between the crosstown rivals. Seiya Suzuki had two hits and two RBIs for the NL Central-leading Cubs on a warm and windy afternoon at Wrigley Field. Nico Hoerner scored three times, and Cade Horton (2-0) pitched five innings of three-run ball in his first career start. The Cubs earned their sixth consecutive win against the White Sox, matching a franchise record for the series. Miguel Vargas went deep twice for the White Sox in his first career multihomer game. He also matched a career high with four hits. Vargas connected for a two-run drive in the first and a solo drive in the third. But the Cubs went ahead to stay with six runs in the second against Shane Smith (1-3). With one out and runners on second and third, Michael Busch used a nifty slide to score on Moisés Ballesteros' chopper to first baseman Andrew Vaughn. Hoerner then hit a grounder to shortstop Chase Meidroth, who made a strong throw to the plate that was dropped by catcher Matt Thaiss for an error. After Jon Berti struck out looking, Crow-Armstrong hit a three-run drive to right for his 12th homer. Suzuki tacked on an RBI single for a 6-2 lead. Smith was charged with one earned run and seven hits in five innings. The rookie right-hander struck out five and walked one. Crow-Armstrong also drove in Hoerner with a wind-aided single in the sixth, and then singled home two more runs in the seventh for a 10-3 lead. Key moment Ballesteros hit an RBI single in the eighth for his first hit in his second major league game. Key stat Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Smith has surrendered two homers in 48 1/3 innings in his first big league season. He allowed a three-run shot by Boston's Rafael Devers on April 19. Up next White Sox right-hander Sean Burke (2-4, 4.15 ERA) and Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd (3-2, 2.78 ERA) take the mound on Saturday. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs Trade Idea Opens up Money for Kyle Tucker Extension
Kyle Tucker is going to demand an astronomical price this offseason. The Chicago Cubs star outfielder has come back down to earth lately, but is still putting together another all-star campaign with a .262 batting average, a .892 OPS, a 153 OPS+, and 10 home runs. The Cubs are in first place in the National League Central at 25-18, but shipping some of their more expensive contracts could be necessary to preserve Tucker. Advertisement Brendan Kuty of The Athletic threw out Nico Hoerner as a potential target for the New York Yankees. While Chicago does not need to trade Hoerner by any means, here is what a deal could look like and why it would benefit them: Cubs receive: OF Everson Pereira (No. 12), INF Jorbit Vivas (No. 19). Yankees receive: 2B Nico Hoerner. Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker (30) hits an RBI triple against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at Wrigley Marton-Imagn Images With Jazz Chisholm Jr. out for the short term and Oswaldo Cabrera out for the long term, New York needs infield support. Shipping Vivas would strain their depth, but with D.J. LeMahieu activated, the Yankees are in a position to deal prospects for MLB support. Hoerner could play second, and once Chisholm is healthy, he could return to third base (where he surprisingly excelled last season). LeMahieu, who has been hampered by injuries in his older days, would slot in nicely as a depth infielder who can fill in for off days. Advertisement Shipping Hoerner would likely ruffle some feathers amongst Cubs fans, but he is also owed $23.5 million over the next two seasons, and that money could be valuable for the Tucker fund. This would be a step in the other direction for a team and a President in Jed Hoyer that has been insistent on win-now moves (the Tucker trade, the Matt Shaw demotion). However, Hoerner's slow start at the plate (.281 batting average, .668 OPS, 92 OPS+) makes him as expendable as ever. Pereira is a tantalizing prospect who could eventually garner a Chicago outfield spot with so much uncertainty moving forward. Ian Happ is a free agent in 2027, Pete Crow-Armstrong is due for a massive deal, and, of course, the unknown status of Tucker beyond this year. It may seem ludicrous, but this league has also taught us to expect the unexpected. Related: Cubs' Craig Counsell Sends Message to Pete Rose Amid Reinstatement Related: Fox Sports Makes Historic Cubs-Mets Announcement
