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3 Cubs prospects who stand to gain the most from Nico Hoerner's surprise surgery news
There's no timeline for the Gold Glover's recovery as of yet - but the uncertainty alone could open up opportunities for some guys.
Talk about an injury update that blindsided everyone. Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner recently underwent right flexor tendon surgery, an inauspicious start to an offseason of critical importance on the North Side.
The Cubs have not yet released any sort of timeline for his recovery, but the rough timeline we've seen when pitchers undergo this procedure falls anywhere between six to nine months. Obviously, if it wound up being on the long side of that range, Hoerner would not be ready to go come Opening Day, instead lining up for a potential midseason return.
That's pure speculation at this point and we'll await word from the club on how the procedure went and what sort of timeline we're looking at. But if Hoerner isn't ready to go come spring, three Cubs prospects who could stand to benefit from the unfortunate news.
Matt Shaw is the obvious choice to step in for Hoerner if he misses time
Cubs top prospect and MLB Pipeline's #22-ranked talent Matt Shaw is, at least in theory, the next man up on the organizational depth chart. The former first-rounder is knocking on the door already after making the jump to Triple-A Iowa this year and could crack the Opening Day roster in Hoerner's stead.
This year between Tennessee and Iowa, Shaw slashed .284/.379/.488 with only 95 punchouts in 121 games, a promising sign for the 22-year-old infielder whose hit tool has drawn rave reviews. With Hoerner locked in at second and Dansby Swanson at short, the Cubs have given Shaw reps at third base, so he could bring added versatility to Craig Counsell's club in 2025.
This is, by far, the most logical move for a team that needs to win. Letting your top prospect get a shot while Hoerner recovers and gets ready could have some rough spells, sure. But you've got to pull the trigger on that move eventually and the injury gives you a clear path to Shaw getting everyday reps at the big-league level.
James Triantos could also be part of the infield solution in 2025
Often overlooked in discussions about a Cubs farm system that boasts eight top 100 prospects, James Triantos should play a role for the MLB team next season. Whether that's off the bench, replacing the dead-weight offensive production of guys like Nick Madrigal and Miles Mastrobuoni, or as a fill-in for Hoerner, we'll see him in Chicago in 2025.
Best suited as a second baseman on the infield, Triantos possesses elite bat-to-ball skills and he's shown that at every stop along the way. This year between Double- and Triple-A, the 21-year-old slashed .300/.346/.427 with only 52 strikeouts in nearly 500 plate appearances. He's not the defender Hoerner is (few are) but the bat could add some pop to the offense.
As I said, even if the Cubs go a different path here, whether it be Shaw or an external pick-up, Triantos needs to be a bench piece in 2025. He's hit everywhere and given the abysmal numbers Chicago has gotten from bench players in recent years, they have nothing to lose by giving him a chance.
There's a way this works out well for Moises Ballesteros in the short-term
Moises Ballesteros? You mean the stocky catcher? Yes, the very same. It seems out of place to talk about his potential role with the 2025 Chicago Cubs, but bear with me and it'll soon make sense.
Prior to the Hoerner surgery news, speculation swirled around the possibility the team would shop him this winter, potentially opening up second base for Michael Busch, who played there in the minors during his time in the Dodger system. You could follow a similar line of thinking here: slide Busch to second, which would open up the first base job - where Ballesteros and his bat could get a look.
With a 60-grade hit tool, according to MLB Pipeline, Ballesteros' bat isn't in question. On the same track as Shaw and Triantos, he split the season between Tennessee and Iowa, batting .289/.354/.471. He's followed that up with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, dropping an 1.100 OPS on opposing pitchers. The kid can hit - and this injury might be the opening he needs to get a chance to prove it at the game's highest level.
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