Some very good news to start your day, perhaps washing out the taste of a failed sweep attempt at the big league level yesterday.
If you missed it, Cubs prospect Nico Hoerner – he of the incredible start to his first full professional season despite an incredibly challenging assignment at AA – was hit by a pitch on Tuesday, and immediately removed from the game. Panic set in as quickly as armchair doctors trying to diagnose what happened based on his reaction, based on organizational roster moves around the time, etc. Getting information on minor league injuries is a real challenge, so I can understand why people go to those places – sometimes, you have to do some educated guessing.
Thankfully, we DO have some info on Hoerner’s injury, and it’s good! Per Mark Gonzales at the Tribune, the pitch actually hit Hoerner in the left wrist (yikes!), but it resulted in only a bruise (yay!).
Hoerner has yet to play since the HBP, though, so I’ll probably reserve SOME of my celebration for when he actually steps back up to the plate, and maybe even until he really smacks the ball.
But, for today, this is very good news. No serious injury for Hoerner, who missed time last year with an elbow injury, but has otherwise just raked when he’s been able to play. Currently, the 21-year-old shortstop is hitting .293/.388/.483 (157 wRC+) at Tennessee.