Nico Hoerner
#2 2B · Cubs
Gold Glove '25
Height
5'11"
Weight
200 lbs
Age
29
College
Stanford
Draft
2018, Rd 1, #24
Experience
7 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
B
B
B+
N/A
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The Verdict on Nico, in One Read
On the field, Nico Hoerner grades out as a strong 2B for Cubs (B Performance). That places him 18th of 72 graded second basemen. The money matches the play — the Contract Value Index lands at B, good value. The public read is positive (B+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Career StatsB
| Year | Team | GP | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS | SB | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 753 | 0.28083897 | 40 | 308 | 0.72450674 | 140 | 790 |
| 2026 | | 62 | .253 | 4 | 33 | .694 | 12 | 63 |
| 2025 |
Current Contract
Length
3 years
Total Value
$35.0M
Guaranteed
$21.0M
AAV
$11.7M/yr
Guaranteed %60%
Contract Value Index (CVI)
B
Good Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Net of age, position, and term, Nico Hoerner's deal earns a B Contract Value Index. At $11.7M AAV over three years, the contract sits comfortably in the above-average second baseman range — Hoerner's B-grade performance profile, anchored by back-to-back Gold Glove awards in 2023 and 2025, justifies organizational investment in a franchise-contributing defender and reliable bat rather than an MVP-tier force. The Cubs locked him in at 29 years old, a stage where a seven-year veteran typically commands premium dollars for present value rather than upside, and the term structure preserves flexibility while signaling confidence in his role as a cornerstone piece. The extension's public reception has been uniformly positive, with media framing the commitment as the organization recognizing and rewarding a two-time Gold Glove winner rather than overpaying for unproven talent, which reinforces the deal's narrative credibility. The Cubs' recent roster churn on the pitching side—a series of depth signings over the last two weeks—underscores that the front office views Hoerner's contract as an anchor amid tactical flexibility elsewhere, a positioning that holds up given his defensive elite status and steady on-field production. Over a three-year window, the CVI reflects fair market value for a plus defender entering his prime years, with no structural red flags or cap albatross risk.
Performance Analysis
B
FCA+
Per-game impact for Nico Hoerner pencils out to a B performance grade. At 29 years old and eight seasons into his career, Hoerner operates as a solid, above-average second baseman whose defensive excellence masks an offensive profile that has cooled considerably in the 2026 season—his .253 AVG across 62 games represents a meaningful dip in consistency at the plate, though his four home runs and 20 strikeouts suggest he's making contact without driving the ball with authority. His real strength remains the glove: two Gold Glove awards (2023 and 2025) anchor a reputation as one of the most technically gifted fielders in the National League, and his recent viral defensive moments—including the between-the-legs flip that earned him MLB's Play of the Week—reinforce that elite defensive standing as his calling card. On the offensive side, the strikeout rate and modest power output in a small sample speak to a player who contributes through defense, baserunning, and situational hitting rather than carry a lineup. Hoerner's durability—appearing in 62 games so far—keeps him in the Cubs' everyday mix as a franchise cornerstone, a standing reinforced by his $141M, six-year extension. The media narrative around him remains uniformly positive despite the offensive regression, with his clubhouse presence, work ethic, and willingness to be a team-first player elevating his public standing above his raw production grade—a testament to how front offices and fanbases value reliability and character alongside raw output.
Contracts in the Same Value Band
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Nico's contract sits relative to comparable money.
How Nico Compares at the Position
Nico Hoerner ranks 18th of 72 graded second basemen by performance. That slots Nico between Ildemaro Vargas (B) just ahead and Charles McAdoo (B) just behind.
Graded higher
Ildemaro VargasDiamondbacksBJeremiah JacksonOriolesBChase MeidrothWhite SoxBNico HoernerB
Graded lower
Charles McAdooBlue JaysRecent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 6/17 | vs COL | L 2-5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tue, 6/16 | vs COL | W 5-4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
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About this player
Nico Hoerner is a player in his 7th MLB season listed at 2B for the Cubs. FanVerdicts covers every MLB player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Nico Hoerner, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index B, Performance B, Sentiment B+.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when MLB game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the MLB hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The MLB player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.