Cubs Season Report Card: Second Base |
A few positions on this team have been accounted for over the last few years. Second base has been one of them, whether it be David Bote for a few seasons or Nico Hoerner over the past three, the Cubs have had a few issues at second base, which is something they have been happy about.
However, Hoerner's future is uncertain, given the Cubs' current roster construction. There could be a massive hole to fill next season, and there is no direct answer to how to fill that hole. The obvious answer would be to fill it from within with a guy like Matt Shaw. Shaw is the Cubs' top prospect and has earned the opportunity to play if the Cubs feel he is ready, but he is still a prospect, and you never know how prospects will turn out. Here are this season's grades for the Cubs' second basemen.
Sticking with the possibility of trading away Hoerner for a moment, the Cubs are going to have to think long and hard. He isn't one of those players you can just replace overnight. He is the exact opposite of most of this Cubs lineup, which is what this team needs. Even when he goes through a down season like this year, Hoerner offers so much to the table that a down season is still considered a good season for most. This was someone who struggled to hit the ball for nearly three months before turning back into the hitter of old and finishing the season with a .273 average. From a production side, Hoerner wasn't nearly as productive as in 2023, but he didn't have to be, as he should never be counted on to lead this team in RBIs. His seven homers were a bit lower than he or anyone expected, but he still drove in 48 runs, which the Cubs can live with. Hoerner also led the team in stolen bases with 31 and did all that while continuing to play Gold Glove defense. In other words, he is as close to a complete player as one can be, and there is a reason why the Cubs signed him for the deal they did. He has been one of the leaders of this team for the past few seasons and will continue to be that for as long as he is here. Season Grade B: Hoerner had another solid season, but depending on who you ask, some would say he had a down year. That could be the case for his standards when you look at his 2023 showing, but this is the type of player he is. Every team could use a guy like him, as he does all the little things you need players to do to win games.
Although he played primarily third base in each of the past two seasons, Madrigal is still considered a second baseman, so we are going to put him into this category. Three years ago, when the Cubs acquired Madrigal from the White Sox, the plan was for him to become an everyday player and be a top-of-the-order bat capable of setting the table. When you look back at his track record in college and then with the White Sox, you will see a guy with some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the game. He not only makes contact but doesn't strike out much. Yet, for whatever reason, his tenure with the Cubs has been a disappointment, and he is on the verge of being cut from this team. Following a dismal 2022, Madrigal started to show signs of life in 2023 as he took on more of an everyday role and hit .263 with a career-high of two homers and 28 RBIs. Those are not great numbers, but for a player like Madrigal, it was a positive sign, as it did seem like he was starting to round back into form. Then came this season, when he went into the season expected to see significant time at third, only to be again forced to become a role player. When he was on the field, Madrigal continued to struggle, hitting just .221 with 10 RBIs before getting demoted to AAA. Once there, Madrigal suffered a broken hand and was placed on the 60-day IL to end the year. Season Grade F: Like Wisdom, Madrigal has had a rough go since joining the Cubs, and it is getting to the point where a change of scenery may do him well. He is on a team where he has no role, and better players occupy all the positions he plays. It's hard to get consistent at-bats when that happens, but even when he did get those at-bats, he struggled and has been a big letdown in Chicago.Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
