On the first day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
An Anthony Rizzo retirement for the ages,
On the second day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
A $2 scorecard
On the third day of Cubsmas My true love
gave to me Three Schwarbombs in the first All-Star Game Home Run Swing-Off
On the fourth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Four playoff wins
On the fifth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
A five game winning streak
On the sixth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
A six (and a half) game lead
On the seventh day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Seven walk-off wins
On the eighth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Eight home runs on the Fourth of July
On the ninth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Nine incredible Dansby Swanson plays in the Postseason
On the tenth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Ten All Star selections for Ryne Sandberg
Nine incredible Dansby Swanson plays in the Postseason
Eight home runs on the Fourth of July
Seven walk-off wins
A six (and a half) game lead
A five game winning streak
Four playoff wins
Three Schwarbombs in the first All-Star Game Home Run Swing-Off
A $2 scorecard
And an Anthony Rizzo retirement for the ages
As we discussed a few days ago, the middle of the infield defense for the Cubs has been one of their keys to run prevention. According to Statcast, there were very few second basemen who were better at preventing runs than Nico Hoerner in 2025. Just check out this grab to save a run against the Padres during the Wild Card Series [VIDEO].
Statcast measures both Outs Above Average (OAA) and Runs Prevented. By OAA, Nico was the best second baseman in the National League with 15 OAA. Among second basemen, he trailed only Mauricio Dubón in MLB. According to Statcast, those 15 OAA resulted in 11 runs prevented. It’s not hard to see plays that demonstrate why who had like this diving grab to get Jordan Walker at first [VIDEO].
Some of it is surely positioning, like this play where Nico makes robbing a single up the middle from Rafael Flores Jr. during his MLB debut look routine [VIDEO].
Or this heads up play where Nico saves a run by nabbing the speedy Masyn Winn at home [VIDEO].
But it’s not just positioning and heads up baseball. Nico makes stops and quick plays that can rob the most elite players in the league of hits, like this play with Elly De La Cruz charging up the first baseline [VIDEO].
Rumors are swirling that the Cubs are listening to offers for Nico Hoerner, who is a free agent at the end of next season. Depending on the return (and the replacement) it could make sense for the Cubs to trade Nico. But their pitch to contact rotation depends on heads up plays like this to turn weak contact into as many outs as possible [VIDEO].
But for now, Nico is a Cub, and with any luck we’ll be able to watch him make leaping grabs like this at the corner of Clark and Addison at least through next season [VIDEO].
