NEWSLETTER
With Andrelton Simmons likely to begin the season on the Injured List (to speak nothing of the long ago departure of Javy Báez), that starting shortstop job will right there for Nico Hoerner to grab. It seems unlikely that he could do enough in a short window of time to show he MUST start there every day when you consider Simmons’ glove, but … what if he did?
Look, one play doesn’t prove anything, but what Nico Hoerner just did is blowing my mind. This is … I mean … this is something we might’ve seen a certain former Cubs shortstop pull off:
nicOMG pic.twitter.com/mqgM1EsPxk
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 2, 2022
I’ll chalk up the underwhelmed reaction from Boog up to it being Spring Training, which of course doesn’t really matter.
Because MY reaction to that play is serious eye-popping. I cannot believe the arm strength Hoerner showed off on that play, together with excellent range. That is a plus-plus defensive play. Again, one play doesn’t prove anything, but we DID see exceptional defense from Hoerner at second base, and he DID come up a shortstop. Is it a stretch to think there’s a CHANCE he could be above average there? OK, that might be a stretch. But if he’s average and if he hits?
