With a tight neck, Hoerner departs for the pinch hitter in second
Nico Hoerner was considered to as the offense's motor by Cubs manager Craig Counsell throughout the second baseman's terrible start to the season. It would be detrimental to lose Hoerner for any amount of time because he is essential to the lineup and defense.
The Cubs took precautions when Hoerner felt tightness in the left side of his neck early in Friday's game against the D-backs. The second baseman doubled to score Chicago's first run in the first inning, but by the next inning, Matt Shaw had replaced him.
At Wrigley Field on Friday, Hoerner led off the first inning by hitting a pitch from D-backs righty Zac Gallen deep into the left-center-field gap for a double. Hoerner was grimacing as he hurried into second. He stayed in the game and scored from third after Michael Busch's two-run opposite-field single set off a three-run outburst.
In the second inning, Shaw, a super-utility player who provides depth for both the infield and outfield, replaced Hoerner at second base and pinch-hit for him.
Hoerner has hit at a.297 clip in 32 games this season, with four home runs, nine doubles, and 26 RBIs. He was just the fourth player in the Cubs' Wild Card Era (since 1994) to record at least 25 RBIs and 35 hits in the first 30 games of a season. In 147 plate appearances, he has a.835 OPS, 13 walks, and just 14 strikeouts.