Cubs Executive Signals Concern Over Nico Hoerner’s Slump

DENVER, CO – JUNE 11: Nico Hoerner #2 of the Chicago Cubs walks in the dugout in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 11, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

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The Chicago Cubs entered the season aiming to field one of the National League’s most balanced lineups.

Emerging star Pete Crow‑Armstrong and newcomer Alex Bregman were slated to anchor the batting order alongside veteran second baseman Nico Hoerner, who earned MVP Award consideration after hitting .297 last season.

When the Cubs perform at their peak, Hoerner’s knack for putting the ball in play and delivering in crucial moments has often been a key catalyst. That makes his recent downturn especially worrisome for a club fighting to stay competitive in a tight playoff race.

These numbers fall well short of the standards Hoerner has set throughout his career and have prompted remarks from Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.

“Our offense misses those hits, and obviously last year he was so good with runners in scoring position,” Hoyer said, per Chicago Tribune reporter Meghan Montemurro. “He provides an element that the rest of the group doesn’t possess as much, and when he’s not delivering, we feel the absence of that.”

The comments underscore the value Hoerner brings beyond conventional power metrics. His contact ability, runner‑moving skills, and knack for timely hits have long defined Chicago’s offense.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, those contributions have been hard to find lately.

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