Writer names Cubs second baseman the most underrated player in baseball
Much of the Chicago Cubs’ success this season is credited to Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki.
When you look at Chicago’s record and the stats of those players, it’s easy to overlook other players on the roster who have contributed as well.
A player like Nico Hoerner is overshadowed by the bigger names but he has contributed just as much as the other guys and is one of the most important players on the Cubs.
CBS Sports writers released an article about who the most underrated player in baseball is, and one writer gave Hoerner his flowers.
“I think it might be Nico Hoerner,” wrote R.J. Anderson. “Public-facing defensive metrics are what they are, but here’s a statistic that might catch you off guard: he ranks 22nd in Wins Above Replacement since the start of the 2022 season.
“Hoerner is a better hitter than his glove-first second basemen peers Giménez and Brice Turang; he’s posted an OPS+ between 100 and 110 every season since 2021. He’s also a skilled thief who adds value on the basepaths.”
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Hoerner, 28, is a defensive wizard who hits for average. He is tied for first in Major League Baseball among second basemen in outs above average (7) and first among second basemen in defensive runs saved (9).
He isn’t a power threat; he is one of only two qualified batters to not hit a home run this season, yet he has driven in 29 runs. On June 3, Hoerner’s slash line with runners in scoring position was .433/.468/.533.
These numbers have since dropped a bit, but he is extremely good at putting the ball in play and finding holes everywhere on the field.
This season, Hoerner is slashing .288/.333/.360. Factoring in his ability to steal bases (13) and walking as much as he strikes out (15:20), he is one of the most valuable players on the Cubs and one of the most underrated in the sport.
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