Nico Hoerner 2025 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: Provides Consistent Production, But Status For Opening Day in Doubt
Nico Hoerner (elbow) dealt with a flexor tendon injury in 2024 and underwent surgery in October to repair it. He hasn't started throwing or hitting, making his status for Opening Day against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan on March 18 in doubt. The 27-year-old is one of the most consistent producers in fantasy each year. He slashed .273/.335/.373 with seven home runs, 48 RBI, 86 runs, and 31 stolen bases over 151 games in 2024. The Stanford product has had wRC+ 103 or greater in each of the past four seasons. Hoerner also has above-average speed, evidenced by stealing 30 bases or more in each of the last two campaigns. According to Baseball Savant, his 28.4 feet per second is above average and ranks in the 78th percentile in sprint speed. ATC projections are on board, with Hoerner being a threat on the base paths again in 2025, and they are projecting him to steal 28 bases with 103 wRC+. Barring any setbacks with his wrist injury, Hoerner is a nice value and a solid selection in the middle rounds for fantasy managers looking for speed or infield help around pick 180.
Chicago Cubs infielder
Nico Hoerner Swipes Two Bags On Wednesday
Nico Hoerner turned in a productive outing in a 10-2 win over the Athletics on Wednesday. Hoerner went 1-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, a walk, and two steals to help propel Chicago to the win. The veteran infielder is off to a fast start in 2025, picking up eight hits, three RBI, and three steals through his first 24 at-bats. Hoerner doesn't hit for much power but he has shown to be an excellent source of stolen bases in fantasy with 97 steals since the start of the 2022 season. He will look to stay hot moving forward.
Source: MLB.com
Chicago Cubs second baseman Source: MLB.com
Nico Hoerner Not Playing On Saturday
Nico Hoerner (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs continue to be cautious with Hoerner who missed the opening two games in Tokyo while recovering from flexor tendon surgery. He went 0-for-4 on Friday, so the Cubs will give Hoerner a breather here. Jon Berti will cover second base and bat ninth versus right-hander Brandon Pfaadt on Saturday. Berti has good speed, but probably won't see enough playing time to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.
Source: mlb.com
Chicago Cubs second baseman Source: mlb.com
Nico Hoerner To Be Ready For Opening Day
Nico Hoerner (forearm) is expected to be ready for Opening Day. Hoerner has been recovering from surgery for his flexor tendon since last October, holding him to only two Cactus League appearances this spring. The 27-year-old played in his first outings over the weekend, going 1-for-6 with a single. He's hit just 26 home runs over the prior three seasons combined but has been an excellent source of batting average and steals when healthy. Additionally, he's struck out 12.1% of the time or less since 2022. The former first-round pick hit 35 doubles in 2024 -- the highest mark of his six-year career.
Source: Patrick Mooney
Patrick Mooney of The Athletic notes that Chicago Cubs second baseman Source: Patrick Mooney
Nico Hoerner Back In Spring Lineup On Friday
Nico Hoerner (forearm) is starting at second base and is batting second in the team's Cactus League game on Friday against the San Diego Padres. Hoerner continues to recover from flexor-tendon surgery last October, which kept him from appearing in the season-opening, two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hoerner will be in the lineup on Friday, but it remains to be seen if he'll be ready for the U.S. opener next Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. When fully healthy, the 27-year-old will resume duties as the team's regular second baseman in 2025 after the former first-rounder hit .273/.335/.373 with seven home runs, 48 RBI and 31 steals in 151 games in 2024 in his sixth big-league season. He's not flashy by any means and doesn't have much power, but he's consistent, puts the ball in play and has averaged 31 steals the last three years.
Source: Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs second baseman Source: Chicago Cubs
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