This may not tell us *THAT* much about whether Nico Hoerner returns with any kind of expedience this year, but it’s definitely much better news than the alternative.
Choose your word of preference, but the message is that Hoerner did not suffer a new or worsened injury when he exited yesterday’s South Bend Cubs game mid-at-bat:
Update from Cubs: Nico Hoerner did not reaggravate his oblique injury. Will rest for a couple days before resuming baseball activities and being reassessed for next steps.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) August 23, 2021
Cubs say no reinjury on Nico Hoerner (oblique) last night in rehab outing. He’ll take a couple days off and then resume baseball activities likely later this week. From there, team will determine when he restarts rehab stint.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) August 23, 2021
Had it been a true re-injury of the oblique, I think that would’ve been that on Hoerner’s season. Not necessarily because recovering within five weeks is impossible, but instead because it would be at least a few weeks, and then at that point, you just don’t want to risk anything more.
Still, even with it just being caution, you’ve gotta figure it’s going to be a while before he’s in a game again if he only starts back up baseball activities later this week. So maybe we’re talking another rehab game sometime next week? And maybe a return to the Cubs sometime in September? Here’s hoping, because you want him to get those reps if he can.
I’ve started thinking a lot about Nico Hoerner’s future role on the Cubs, and how that connects to some bigger picture considerations. https://t.co/z77A1Vsvgm
— Brett Taylor (@Brett_A_Taylor) August 23, 2021