I mean, what the fuck? The Cubs have already placed 14 players on the injured list in 2024, Ian Happ hasn’t been 100% with his hamstring strain and now Nico Hoerner is hurt too.
As the Cubs were ready to begin Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves, Hoerner was scratched from the starting lineup because of tightness in his left hamstring. Hoerner was originally penciled in to leadoff against Chris Sale and start at shortstop, where he’s been filling in for the injured Dansby Swanson.
Cool, cool, cool.
I guess we should have known something was up with Hoerner because he hasn’t been looking too aggressive this year trying to steal bases and on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates he looked surprisingly slow trying to score from first base on a ball hit down the right field line with two outs.
Well, slower than usual when it comes to Hoerner running.
Yet, if there have been any nagging issues as of late, Hoerner has still been productive at the plate. In 41 games this season, Hoerner is slashing .269/.361/.391, with a 119 wRC+. He’s been fantastic so far in May, posting a .929 OPS in 45 at-bats. This hot stretch for Hoerner includes reaching base at least one time in 12 consecutive games.
This is shaping up to be one of the unluckiest seasons in Cubs history when it comes to injuries. Hopefully Hoerner doesn’t have to miss time, but on the other hand you don’t want guys playing through injuries either because they perform worse and that’s not going to benefit anyone.
I keep applauding this team for keeping it together through all of these injuries, but I’m just waiting for the regression to come because this is getting out of control. Still, the Cubs begin Tuesday only trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by half a game for first place in the NL Central Division.
Fingers crossed that the Cubs don’t lose Hoerner to the injured list now as well.
