Cubs Call Up Andrelton Simmons and Send Nico Hoerner to the Injured List
Although Seiya Suzuki was not forced to miss significant time with his ankle injury, Nico Hoerner is not as lucky. The Cubs are sending their starting shortstop – who hurt his ankle while getting tangled up with an umpire – to the injured list.
And in his place, the Cubs calling up Andrelton Simmons, the free agent shortstop they signed over the offseason.
The #Cubs today placed INF Nico Hoerner on the 10-day IL (retroactive to May 12) with a right ankle sprain and activated INF Andrelton Simmons from the 10-day IL. pic.twitter.com/0ZIwsrh8Zj
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 15, 2022
Simmons began the season on the injured list with right shoulder soreness, opening up the position (full-time) for Hoerner in the first place. For the last week, Simmons has been rehabbing at Triple-A Iowa, where he’s got two hits (both singles) and two walks in 26 plate appearances.
Simmons was, at one time, one of the most elite defensive shortstops in baseball. But at his age – and coming off a shoulder injury – I’m not entirely sure what to expect defensively. I’m guessing he’s still very good there, just perhaps a full step down from his former (again, legitimately elite) self. Offensively, we do know what to expect … basically nothing. Simmons best offensive season was all the way back in 2018, and it was just 6% better than the league average hitter. That’s just not his game. And that’s even more true here in 2022. Still, the Cubs are better off with Simmons at short than Ildemaro Vargas, who’s been filling in lately.
As for Hoerner, well, this was always coming. And now, we just have to hope it doesn’t take him off the field for too long. Hoerner is one of the most important developmental stories of the year. Win or lose, watching him improve is of critical importance. The poor guy has dealt with so many injuries throughout his career already, but this particular case was not something chronic or even individually preventable. And it came as he was taking some very important strides on the offensive side of the ball.
