The Chicago Cubs witnessed the definitive breakout season from Nico Hoerner in 2025, as the smooth-fielding infielder officially cemented his reputation as one of MLB’s best second basemen. His performance, which was elite on both sides of the ball, culminated in his second career defensive honor.
The 28-year-old Nico Hoerner (the main character in this organizational shift) is now poised to use this career year as the foundation for the 2026 season.
🏆 The 2025 Breakdown: A Complete Player
Hoerner’s 2025 season was arguably the best of his career, showcasing the perfect blend of defense, contact, and speed that has made him a cornerstone for the Cubs.
- NL Gold Glove Winner: Hoerner was awarded his second career NL Gold Glove Award at second base (he also won in 2023). He posted a career-best 15 Outs Above Average (OAA) and led all MLB second basemen with 17 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), proving his defensive excellence was unmatched in the National League.
- Offensive Surge: At the plate, Hoerner achieved a career year in contact and average, slashing .297/.345/.394 with a strong .739 OPS and a 114 OPS+.
- He fell just short of the NL batting title, ranking second in the league.
- He recorded only 66 strikeouts in 599 at-bats, boasting one of the best strikeout rates in the majors (10.3%).
- Speed and Consistency: Hoerner stole 29 bases (tying his career high) and played in 156 games—a feat of durability, especially considering he missed the team’s trip to Tokyo while recovering from flexor tendon surgery on his throwing hand.
Hoerner, who also finished in the Top 20 in NL MVP voting, shared his humble approach: “I just want to help the team win every day,” a sentiment that clearly speaks to his all-around value.
The 2026 Outlook: Building the Foundation
The 2026 season is pivotal for Hoerner and the Cubs for two reasons: performance and contract.
- The Build: Hoerner’s comment that 2026 will be his chance to “build on the best foundation of his career” suggests he intends to increase his impact, likely by maintaining his high average while targeting a slight increase in power (he only hit 7 home runs in 2025). Coming off a fully healthy offseason, the expectation is for another durable, elite season.
- The Contract: Hoerner is currently under contract through the end of the 2026 season at a very team-friendly salary of $12.0 million. This makes him a tremendous bargain. However, the Cubs are at risk of losing him to free agency unless they can negotiate an extension this offseason. Given his career-best season (posting 6.2 bWAR), his leverage is extremely high, with analysts projecting he would command a contract well over $100 million on the open market.
The Cubs face a crucial choice this winter: extend the proven, beloved cornerstone of their infield now, or risk his value skyrocketing even higher during the 2026 season.
The Cubs are also looking to lock down another young superstar. Would you like the latest update on the team’s talks with Pete Crow-Armstrong regarding his long-term contract extension?
