{"id":522105,"date":"2026-03-13T23:49:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T23:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/522105\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T23:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T23:49:10","slug":"cubs-nico-hoerner-taking-different-approach-to-generating-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/522105\/","title":{"rendered":"Cubs’ Nico Hoerner taking different approach to generating power"},"content":{"rendered":"

MESA, Ariz. \u2014 When Cubs<\/a> second baseman Nico Hoerner roped a home run to left-center field this week for his first of the spring, it wasn\u2019t because he bulked up over the offseason or tweaked his swing for more power.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of it is what you swing at pitch-wise,\u201d Hoerner said in a recent conversation with the Sun-Times. \u201cSo having a better understanding of not just what I make contact with, but what I drive. And if you can put more balls in play in that bucket throughout the season, then I like my chances to slug more, whether it\u2019s home runs or extra-base hits in general.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoerner\u2019s quest for power has gone through many evolutions. It\u2019s been a spring-training storyline year after year, as he\u2019s sought to balance his natural talents with that clear area for improvement.<\/p>\n

Although he is still quick to bring up a desire to drive the ball more consistently, over the last year, Hoerner\u2019s appreciation for his contact ability has come through more. It may sound counter-intuitive, but that shift may be the key to unlocking Hoerner\u2019s power.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust in the three years that I\u2019ve been here, I\u2019ve seen him come into spring with some different goals,\u201d manager Craig Counsell said. \u201cAnd now I think he sits in a place where he understands himself better and how to achieve those goals. Instead of just saying, \u2018I want to hit for more power,\u2019 it\u2019s more understanding how his body works around that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoerner agreed with Counsell\u2019s assessment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to hitting for power, people have always told me, \u2018Get your swing off, and do damage, and take chances,\u2019\u201d Hoerner said. \u201cAnd those are all well-intentioned. I think there\u2019s validity to that. But those are phrases that you have to make sense of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoerner now sees the swings that he thought were more powerful as just bigger and more out of control.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were just kind of sloppy for me,\u201d he said, \u201cand don\u2019t really embrace my skill sets of being a shorter, explosive mover.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoerner harnessed that explosive movement in the second half of the season last year, hitting all seven of his home runs after mid-June, as he became further removed from the forearm surgery he underwent the previous offseason<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Hoerner also finished the season with the second-best batting average (.297) in the National League. Then in the postseason, he showed just how valuable his contact-centric skillset can be.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really special to watch him in that element,\u201d left fielder Ian Happ said. \u201cAnd the competitiveness and his skill set plays so well in those situations because he\u2019s so good at moving the ball forward and putting together a really competitive at-bat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoerner led Cubs lineup regulars in the postseason with a .419 batting average. He recorded a double, home run and four RBI.<\/p>\n

\u201cResults in a small sample like that can come and go,\u201d Hoerner said. \u201cBut obviously we faced such a high level of pitching between San Diego and Milwaukee, and especially in their bullpens, you\u2019re not facing pitchers usually more than once or twice. It was a very challenging setting. So it meant a lot to me, both mentally and skillset wise, to be able to just have quality at-bats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Postseason pitching is bound to be staunch this year too, as the Cubs shoot for a deeper playoff run. And with Hoerner heading to free agency for the first time in his career, barring an extension, that could be his last hurrah with the team that drafted him in 2018.<\/p>\n

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Steele underwent an internal brace procedure last April.<\/p>\n

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Manager Craig Counsell said Shaw\u2019s first taste of first base \u201ccouldn\u2019t have gone any better.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Boyd is set to make the third Opening Day start of his career but his first in a full-capacity stadium.<\/p>\n

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