Chicago Cubs: Examining the best draft picks of the decade

Nico Hoerner, SS – 2018 Amateur draft, Round 1 Pick 24

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The final guy to make the list is a brand new superstar in the making, and that is Nico Hoerner. In desperate need of middle infield help, the Cubs selected the former star at Stanford with the hope he would make an impact sooner rather than later. Boy, did they get that pick right?

Hoerner annihilated the minor league competition making his way to Double-A Tennessee within a season and a half. Epstein and company called Hoerner up at the end of last season, and he did not disappoint.

On the road in San Diego for his debut, Hoerner collected three hits and two RBI in an exciting and highly-anticipated first big league game. While he cooled off shortly after that, Hoerner finished his stint slashing .282/.305/.436 with three home runs and 17 RBI.

Like Contreras, Hoerner stepped into the box at Wrigley for his first home at-bat and did the unthinkable by hammering a ball to dead center field to give the Cubs the lead. A fantastic moment for the now 22-year-old.

Hoerner should break camp with Chicago, and if he does not, he will most certainly be called up at some point early in the season. It is time to move into a new decade of Cubs baseball, and Hoerner should find himself at the helm of beginning something great.