The Cubs showed Nico Hoerner the money, and he’s showing them it hasn’t affected him in the least.
In fact, the 28-year-old second baseman who signed a $141 million contract on Opening Day is demonstrating an even better version of himself since signing for six more years on the North Side. He hit his second homer in two games and third of the season while tacking on two singles and a diving play in the Cubs’ 12-4 romp over the Mets on Friday at Wrigley Field. In his last 11 games, Hoerner is batting .380 with three homers and 17 RBI.
Hoerner wouldn’t be the first player whose numbers were affected by new money, but it’s certainly not making him complacent, and there are no signs of him succumbing to pressure to perform better.
“No matter where you’re at in your career there is always going to be a next thing, right?” Hoerner told the Sun-Times Friday. “Whether it’s debuting, being a starter, making an All-Star team, free agency. There’s always going to be a trap or the next thing you’re always putting pressure on yourself for. For myself, I’m still coming to terms with it but I have an understanding of what it means for me. It’s a responsibility and accountability in a good way.”
Don’t think the contract and everything that goes with it hasn’t crossed his mind, and Hoerner is no shallow thinker.
“It does feel different,” he said. “Whether it’s pressure, responsibility, accountability, or opportunity, there are a lot of great things that come from those emotions. Some of my best baseball has been when I felt nervous before a game, whether it’s a playoff or debut things like that. I view [the contract] as responsibility and a chance to do something really special.”
Hoerner was the leadoff man in a lineup that thumped its opponent with double-digit runs for a third straight day for the first time since Sept 13-15, 2019. Ian Happ hit his team-high fifth homer onto Waveland Aveune, Moises Ballesteros extended his hitting streak to five games with two hits including his third homer — an opposite-field basket shot against Kodai Senga that gave Edward Cabrera (six innings of three-run ball) a 4-0 lead in the first.
The Cubs (10-9) are above .500 for the first time.
“Just a matter of time,” Happ, Friday’s cleanup hitter, said. “This offense is really good, top to bottom it’s deep, good hitters with good plans.”
“We scored a bunch of runs in the last game in Philadelphia [Wednesday] and I didn’t do anything. You can have a tough day and not have the weight of the world on your shoulders because other guys are picking you up. I wasn’t part of that and it takes pressure off.”
Hoerner’s feeling no pressure to turn up his power production, but his new deal coincides with visions of doing just that for a two-time Gold Glove fielder and hitter who earned the contract by getting on base, stealing bases, hitting doubles and scoring runs.
Manager Craig Counsell said Hoerner, who had 36 homers in his first seven seasons, has as much power as any Cub.
“He’s become a better version of himself,” said Counsell, citing a Hoerner homer and single to right field in consecutive at-bats against the Phillies Wednesday.
“Nico’s next step has always been, can he drive the baseball consistently?”
The key is keeping his foundation of skills as a defensive hitter and “learning how to drive the baseball a little better. How he thinks about it.”
“I always want to improve my game and that’s a space where I haven’t done that much,” Hoerner said. “The thing is, how much can you hold onto the skills that get you to this place in the first place but still add to your game.”
“The team has put a big commitment in for me. It doesn’t have to be anything different, or change who I am, just another thing to hold me accountable to be a good version of myself every day.”
