Cubs hope Nico Hoerner can be their next Ben Zobrist-type utilityman

On a Cubs team lacking depth, Nico Hoerner could be a fix all over the diamond.

Looking at the depth chart for the Chicago Cubs right now sure feels different than it did just a few short seasons ago. The offseason has been slow-moving so far, allowing the uncertainty about the team’s direction and outlook to linger as we near the end of 2020.

Right now, Chicago lacks a third starting outfielder and, if they do, indeed, trade Kris Bryant, the infield depth would be in tatters. There are two starting pitchers you feel good about atop the rotation, a closer that may or may not get the job done in the final year of his deal and a core that’s less than a year from hitting the open waters of free agency.

So now we have to start looking to the future. Part of that future? Former first-round pick Nico Hoerner. Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times looked at the Stanford standout’s standing with the team in his latest piece – and it got me thinking. Could he eventually be the second coming of a Ben Zobrist-type player?

In Nico Hoerner, the Cubs have a versatile ‘plus’ defender

He checks a lot of the same boxes, especially defensively. He’s capable of giving you, at a minimum, solid and, at his best, flat-out elite defense at multiple positions. Don’t forget, he was a Gold Glove finalist this year at second base in the National League, amassing five Defensive Runs Saved in a shortened season.

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David Ross loved what he got from Hoerner this year, despite a pretty underwhelming showing at the dish, where he amassed a disappointing 63 wRC+.

"‘‘The great thing about Nico is, however the roster is shaped, he provides a lot of flexibility,’’ Ross said. ‘‘His willingness to grow and attack any position and his baseball IQ make it really easy to have the conversation of, ‘I need you to bounce around,’ ‘I need you to lock in at short,’ or whatever the case may be. It’s easy with a guy like that because there’s a lot of flexibility there. There’s a willingness to learn, and he’s a good baseball player.’’"

This was the quote that made me draw the line from Hoerner to Zobrist. Look, we all love Zo. The guy was the epitome of a class-act, on and off the field. But he was never a Hall of Fame guy. He was the guy who makes those Cooperstown-bound teammates look good. He was the one who helped those guys get their World Series rings by grinding, being a consummate professional and always putting the team first.

A Ben Zobrist-like career is a goal every Cubs player should embrace

At the end of the day, he’s got two World Series rings to show for it – one with the Royals and one with the Cubs. The former sixth-round pick played critical roles on both of those teams and was beloved by Joe Maddon, both in Chicago and earlier in his career in Tampa Bay as a member of the Rays.

The bat needs some work. That’s a given. But after the team non-tendered a trio of outfielders early this month, having a guy like Hoerner who can move around the diamond on a daily basis, filling holes and giving you ‘plus’ defense is huge.

He could earn the second base job in 2021. Or the Cubs could roll with David Bote at second, relying on Hoerner as a backup infielder or potentially the everyday center fielder. We saw Ian Happ there a lot in 2020 – but with Kyle Schwarber gone, Happ could slide over to left and Hoerner  could see more time in center given his athleticism and high baseball IQ.

"‘‘I think we’ll probably continue to work on his versatility,” Cubs president of baseball ops Jed Hoyer said. “I think he can absolutely be an every-day player at one position in the big leagues, but I also think, at his age and given our roster, it makes sense to continue to encourage that [versatility].’’"

Here’s the thing. I don’t think Hoerner will be that guy in 2021. He needs – no, desperately needs, to finish developing his bat in the minors. But long-term, he’s certainly got the tools to be the team’s do-it-all guy, stepping up when called upon all over the diamond.