Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner will not make the trip to Japan with the team to open the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 18 and 19, reports ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. Hoerner is still recovering from flexor-tendon surgery on his right forearm last October and will stay back in Arizona to continue his rehab. At this point, Hoerner has been hitting in the batting cages at spring training and is doing a throwing program, but hasn’t made his Cactus League debut as the Cubs play it safe. Hoerner, 27, still has a good shot of being ready for the following series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 27.
“His rehab has taken a step forward in the last three weeks,” manager Craig Counsell said to reporters. “He is starting to progress quicker. We’re in a really good spot, and if we can have him for domestic Opening Day, going back to the surgery date, it would be a very positive result.”
Nico Hoerner Won’t Make Trip to Japan
The Cubs will face the Dodgers overseas in the two-game series, cutting 10 days from their spring training schedule. Their final Cactus League game is on March 11, and they won’t return until March 21. Counsell mentioned Vidal Bruján and newcomer Jon Berti as candidates to play second base in Japan.
“He needs at-bats to play. At this point, he needs to be a baseball player and the trip just does not allow for him to do that in the proper way.”
Hoerner is in the second year of a three-year, $35 million contract extension and has been one of the Cubs’ most reliable players over the last two seasons. He posted a 12.8 fWAR in 2023-24, hitting 26 home runs and stealing 94 bases. Defensively, he’s recorded +38 Outs Above Average in that span, ranking eighth in the league. Hoerner also won a Gold Glove in 2023.
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