Nico Hoerner could do something no Cubs player has accomplished in 20 years

With a three-hit effort on Tuesday - his fourth multi-hit game in his last five contests - Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner pushed his batting average north of .300, pulling within four points of injured Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner for the league lead.

He's also projected to win the second Gold Glove of his career for his defensive efforts at second base - which means Hoerner in poised to do something no Cubs player has accomplished in two decades: win a batting title and a Gold Glove in the same season.

The last man to do so? Recent Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame inductee Derrek Lee, who not only won a Gold Glove and a batting title during his incredible 2005 season, but also won a Silver Slugger Award, earned an All-Star selection and finished third in National League MVP voting.

Now, I'm telling you right now, there's a zero percent chance Hoerner is an MVP finalist, but that doesn't take away from the incredible all-around season he's having. After playing through an injury in 2024, the Cubs' infielder has put together the best year of his career - and, according to Baseball Reference, will finish with his first 6.0 bWAR season.

Nico Hoerner is doing it all for the Cubs this season

Hoerner has long been an elite defender at second (and, shortstop, for that matter), but he's put his bat-to-ball skills on full display of late, with a minuscule 7.1 percent strikeout rate, 11 percent whiff rate and .298 xBA (all three of which rank at or near the top of the league).

His name floated around in trade rumors for much of the offseason, but the Cubs held fast - and it's paid off handsomely, with Hoerner serving as an unspoken centerpiece of an offense that's been up, down and everywhere in-between this year. With Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki out and Pete Crow-Armstrong still looking to re-discover his first-half form, it's been Hoerner that's delivered night-in and night-out for manager Craig Counsell.

There's just one year left on the three-year, $35 million extension Hoerner signed prior to the 2024 season - but given he doesn't even turn 29 until next May, I don't think it would surprise anybody to see Hoerner and the Cubs kick around a new deal this winter because he's been that important to Chicago.