This was never the plan. Nico Hoerner, the team’s first-round pick from the 2018 draft, was yet to play a game at Triple-A Iowa when the Cubs called him up to fill in at shortstop. With both Javier Baez and Addison Russell sidelined, the team had no other option as they tried to will their way to the postseason for a fifth consecutive season.
Hoerner, even now just 22 years of age, did everything he could to get the club across the finish line. He hit .282 on the year and in his first six big league games, he drove in three or more runs three times.