Increasingly desperate and in a tight National League playoff chase, the Chicago Cubs have told 2018 first-round draft pick Nico Hoerner to skip the Arizona Fall League and report directly to the big leagues.
The move comes with Javier Baez on the shelf with a hairline fracture in his left thumb. His replacement, Addison Russell, has a concussion after being hit in the face with a pitch Sunday.
Reinforcements on the way for Cubs:https://t.co/0SMx6HKX4E
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) September 9, 2019
A rash of injuries
Baez’s injury occurred the previous Sunday while he was stealing a base. He tried to return Thursday but was unable to enter the lineup after struggling in batting practice.
It was a blow for the Cubs, but the saving grace was that they had a ready replacement in Russell, who had been part of the team’s World Series run in 2016.
But then Russell was injured Sunday. To make matters worse, the Cubs lost the final three games of their series against the Milwaukee Brewers and have fallen 4.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central race. They’re also just 1.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second wild card, and the Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies trail by just two games.
Teams have either 18 or 19 games to play.
With Baez, Russell hurt, Cubs call up Hoerner https://t.co/6hKUSiRdQ2
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) September 9, 2019
Help on the way?
According to ESPN Stats and Info, Hoerner is the first 2018 draftee to reach the big leagues. He has only reached Double-A Tennessee, but there is precedent for a player to jump from Double-A to the majors and help the Cubs: That’s exactly what Kyle Schwarber did in 2015.
Hoerner doesn’t have Schwarber’s power, but he can handle a premium defensive position. The Stanford alumnus hit .284/.344/.399 with 31 strikeouts and 21 walks at Tennessee, so he’s shown patience at the plate and an ability to get on base.
It’s a big risk for the Cubs, counting on a Double-A call-up in a playoff race, but it’s one they feel they have to take as long as Baez and Russell are out.
The #Cubs call up No. 1 prospect Nico Hoerner @nico_hoerner today after Baez and Russell injuries.
W/@smokiesbaseball (Double-A) He batted .284, in August he hit .333. Expect quality defense plus solid at-bats. Not a home run threat yet but get’s on base. #Everybodyin
— Mick Gillispie (@BroadcasterMick) September 9, 2019
