Cubs Top Prospect Nico Hoerner's MLB Debut Was Freaking Spectacular
By Adam Weinrib
From the 2018 draft to the 2019 pennant race, 22-year-old Nico Hoerner has come a long way very swiftly for the Chicago Cubs.
The first 2018 draftee to make the bigs (naturally), Hoerner went straight from the frying pan into the fire on Monday night in San Diego, the centerpiece of a coordinated last-ditch effort to hold off the advancing Arizona Diamondbacks in the Wild Card race.
Needless to say, the gambit worked to perfection. Hoerner, fresh off the plane from Tennessee, has already arrived, going 3-for-5 with four RBI in the late-night Chicago victory.
First @MLB hit for @nico_hoerner!#EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/YXQg2q8XL1
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 10, 2019
We shouldn't be stunned at Hoerner's quick ascent; after all, that's what fast-rising college shortstops are supposed to do. Chicago's found success with collegiate infield draftees in the recent past (hello, Kris Bryant), and the quick-twitch Hoerner might just have an electric debut month in his bones, too.
And if you think the Cubs fans on hand didn't know what they were witnessing, think again. They made spacious Petco feel like the Friendly Confines.
Nico Hoerner is just 22, was just drafted last year, and is making his big league debut on the road.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 10, 2019
And they're chanting his damn name in the stadium. Incredible. (?: @StayingBullish) pic.twitter.com/HQVPyDZu84
The Cubs now sit two games up on the Brewers and 2.5 ahead of Arizona as the chase continues. Think this rook could be worth a few dubs?