The Chicago Cubs have assembled one of the most talented rosters in Major League Baseball. That is, at least, on paper. A full 162-game season has to be played in order to get a full understanding of just how good (or bad) any team is. That being said, there are many reasons to be optimistic about this Cubs team.
Last year, the Cubs finished 92-70, but just two of their players were named to the National League All-Star team. Those were Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker. PCA is just 23 years old and is coming off of a 30-30 season. Tucker, of course, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency.
Recently, David Schoenfield of ESPN made his way-too-early predictions for the 2026 MLB All-Star teams. While Tucker was predicted to be an NL All-Star, PCA was not.
Chicago Cubs players Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman, and Micahel Busch predicted to be NL All-Stars
Feb 11, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs Alex Bregman (3) gets ready to hit during spring training camp at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Despite losing Tucker and PCA not being predicted to be an All-Star, three Cubs position players ended up on ESPN’s list of predicted National League All-Stars.
Nico Hoerner: 2nd Base starter
Schoenfield predicted that fans will vote Nico Hoerner as the starter at second base, writing:
“Ketel Marte is the default pick at second base because of his .913 OPS over the past two seasons, the sixth-best mark in the majors. Hoerner is a much different player than Marte, getting much of his value from his glove and legs, but he also hit .297 with a .345 OBP and topped Marte in WAR in 2025 (6.2 to 4.4). Durability is a key, as Hoerner has topped 150 games three straight years while Marte has averaged 137 games over those three seasons.”
Another thing to consider about Hoerner is that he is entering a contract year. He has all the motivation in the world to put together a career year. He has never been an All-Star before.
Alex Bregman: 3rd Base starter
Chicago’s biggest off-season addition, Alex Bregman, made three AL All-Star teams in his 10-year career. Schoenfield predicts he will make his first NL All-Star team in his first year with the Cubs:
“Bregman has been a consistent two-way performer and was on his way to another four-win season with the Red Sox in 2025 if not for a quad strain. He and Machado are similar at this point: Machado has averaged 3.3 WAR the past three seasons with a 117 OPS+ while Bregman is at 4.2 and 121, both now in their early 30s. Riley might have the most upside here but has battled injuries the past two seasons, so I’m going with Bregman, who I think has a big year ahead at Wrigley Field.”
Bregman was an All-Star with the Boston Red Sox last year, hitting .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. His numbers may look even better in 2026 playing in hitter-friendly Wrigley Field.
Michael Busch: 1st Base reserve
While Schoenfield predicts that Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves will be the starting first baseman in the National League, he does think Michael Busch will be named as a reserve. What makes this somewhat of a bold prediction is that he left of Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddy Freeman, who has made the NL All-Star team in seven of the last eight seasons.
The only year he did not was 2020, when there was no All-Star Game, and Freeman won NL MVP.
That being said, the fact that Busch was named as a reserve above him is a testament to how well-regarded the Cubs first baseman is.
No Chicago pitchers were predicted to be All-Stars.
For More Chicago Sports
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Cubs: Justin Steele delivers great news on rehab
Read More
For More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE