according to the Chicago Tribune<\/a>. \u201cWhen you combine that with experience, it\u2019s a special thing, and I think our group is in a really strong place.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/29-chicago-cubs-congratuated-nico-124280393.jpg\")
Michael Busch is congratulated by Nico Hoerner after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the Cubs\u2019 blowout spring training win over the Yankees at Sloan Park on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Ariz. Getty Images<\/p>\n
Hoerner is coming off a career year with the Cubs, posting a slash line of .297\/.345\/.394 with 29 doubles and a 6.2 WAR, as he earned his second Gold Glove award.<\/p>\n
Even with his impressive numbers last season, Cubs skipper Craig Counsell said he believes Horner can do even better.<\/p>\n
\u201cNico can grow, I think Nico can be better, and I really am optimistic he\u2019s going to be better,\u201d Counsell said Thursday. \u201cNico still has the ability to drive the ball a little more, and that\u2019s in a good place and really ready to show up. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I want Nico to be himself, and he\u2019s going to be himself and just go take his at-bat and do good things, in the mold of how he does it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Cubs have secured their second baseman for the long haul. Nico Hoerner and the Cubs agreed to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":645623,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2399],"tags":[5,138,24,4245,161,4,2046,185],"class_list":{"0":"post-645622","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago-cubs","8":"tag-baseball","9":"tag-chicago","10":"tag-chicago-cubs","11":"tag-chicagocubs","12":"tag-cubs","13":"tag-mlb","14":"tag-mlb-free-agency","15":"tag-sports"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116298442959855965","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=645622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645622\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/645623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=645622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=645622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=645622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Nico](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-chicago-cubs-high-fives-124279656.jpg\")
Nico Hoerner high fives teammates in the dugout after scoring a run during the first inning of the Cubs\u2019 blowout spring training game win over the Yankees at Sloan Park on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Ariz. Getty Images<\/p>\n