John Antonoff / For the Sun-Times
PHOENIX – The first ball hit to second baseman Nico Hoerner in a regular season game this year was a sharp ground ball to his left, zipping toward the gap at over 95 mph.
Hoerner darted after it, going into a half slide to make a clean grab. His movements were deliberate as he made an on-target throw to first.
That play in the bottom of the second inning of the Cubs 10-6 win Thursday was an apt way to christen Hoerner’s return after undergoing offseason forearm surgery.