Nico Hoerner<\/a><\/strong>, the Stanford standout the Chicago Cubs<\/a> took with the 24th\u00a0<\/span>overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, has been called up to the Show. With Javier Baez<\/a><\/strong> and Addison Russell<\/a> <\/strong>on the injured list, and David\u00a0Bote<\/span><\/a><\/strong> or Ben Zobrist<\/a><\/strong> not being good options at shortstop, the\u00a0<\/span>Cubs have called up their top prospect, and he will start on Monday night in San Diego.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Baez has been diagnosed with a fracture in his wrist that will keep him out for the remainder of the season. Russell is currently under the concussion protocol after getting hit in the head with a pitch in Milwaukee over the weekend. Bote<\/span> and Zobrist could fill in but are better at third and second base respectfully. Triple-A shortstop Dixon Machado<\/a><\/strong> is injured as\u00a0<\/span>well. He has a quad injury that will keep him out until next season. Hoerner has dealt with his own injuries as well. He was hit in the wrist earlier this year and missed a couple of months as a result. He has been compared to All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler <\/a><\/strong>and is projected to end up as a second baseman himself. Hoerner has a very accurate arm but not the strongest. He\u00a0<\/span>hit for some power prior to the injury and should hit for a decent average in the big leagues.\u00a0According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times<\/a>, \u201cHe hit .292 in 75 minor-league games this year, including .284 with a .344 on-base percentage and three homers in 70 games for AA Tennessee.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Cubs could not afford to have this happen right now. There is going to be a lot of pressure on the young kid to perform at the highest level without much margin for error. The Cubs are currently 4.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals<\/a> and just 1.5 games ahead in the race for the second Wild Card spot with three weeks left in the season. This could derail\u00a0the<\/span> Cubs season and allow the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> to get into the playoffs.<\/p>\n Main Photo:Chicago Cubs Plagued by Injuries in 2019<\/h3>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\nNico Hoerner’s Minor League Career<\/h3>\n
Chicago Cubs Outlook<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>