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Nico Hoerner Re-Emerging as a High-End Middle Infielder
Across 596 plate appearances entering play on Wednesday, Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner was hitting .263/.319/.361 with eight home runs, 62 RBI, 56 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. With his minuscule 1.4% barrel rate and 28.2% hard-hit rate, Hoerner's power upside for fantasy managers is extremely limited. However, the 29-year-old's production has been trending upward in the second half. Across 176 plate appearances since the All-Star break, Hoerner has slashed .331/.352/.440 with four home runs, 24 RBI, 19 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Hoerner's high-end defense at both second base and shortstop keeps him in the Cubs lineup every day, and his elite 8.7% strikeout rate should keep his batting average floor high even if his recent power surge cools off. With his sub-standard first half now behind him, Hoerner profiles as an extremely useful source of batting average, run production, and speed for fantasy managers down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cubs Calling Up Prospect James Triantos for MLB Debut
The Chicago Cubs are calling up second base/outfielder prospect James Triantos from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday for his major-league debut, according to Geoff Pontes of Baseball America. Triantos, the team's No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is getting his first MLB call after slashing an impressive .306/.344/.440 with a .784 OPS, seven home runs, 52 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and 58 runs scored in 88 games across 378 plate appearances this year at Iowa. The 23-year-old former second-rounder in 2021 should give the Cubbies a utility option off the bench, as he has experience at all three outfield spots while mostly playing second and third base on the farm in 2026. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder has bounced back nicely after a rough showing in the minors last year, although he's unlikely to have an everyday role in Chicago this year if he sticks in the majors. Triantos, who bats and throws right-handed, has been compared to Alex Bregman and David Wright for his high-end contact skills. To become a big-league regular, he'll need to develop more power and improve his plate discipline. Fantasy managers in most leagues can ignore Triantos for now.
Source: Baseball America - Geoff Pontes
Source: Baseball America - Geoff Pontes
James Triantos Entering Stash Territory Amid Torrid Triple-A Stretch
Chicago Cubs second base prospect James Triantos has enjoyed an impressive stretch at the Triple-A level and has put himself on the stash radar for those in deeper formats. Since June 1, Triantos has posted a dominant .358/.403/.515 line with a sharp .918 OPS. During this noted stretch, Triantos has hit 12 doubles, three home runs, five stolen bases, and a 17:9 K:BB. On the season, the No. 8-ranked prospect in the Chicago system has carried a dominant .311/.349/.448 line with 22 doubles, seven home runs, and 18 stolen bases. However, what kept him in Iowa is Chicago's depth in the middle infield. Even though Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson have not had the most productive seasons, they remain the clear top options on the depth chart. However, if one were to miss time with an injury, Triantos would enter must-stash territory given his five-category upside.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Nico Hoerner's Slump Creates a Second-Half Buying Window
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner limped into the All-Star break at .233/.305/.326, but his fantasy line was not empty. He still produced 37 runs, 38 RBI, and 14 steals in 94 games, and his 7.9% strikeout rate remained absurdly low. Hoerner appeared in 94 of Chicago's 96 games, though he spent the final week mostly batting sixth. The average is the reason to buy. Hoerner's .284 expected batting average sits 51 points above the real number, while his .243 BABIP is nowhere near last season's .313 mark. He is still making contact on 96.1% of pitches in the strike zone. Just do not pay for a power jump that probably is not coming. A 28% hard-hit rate and 0.9% barrel rate tell that story. Managers frustrated by the first-half slide may move him cheaply, and the average-steals rebound is worth chasing.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Hoerner Continues Sluggish Play
Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner has not looked like himself at the plate lately. Hoerner is normally one of the most consistent hitters at his position, but has struggled over the last few weeks. Coming into Thursday's game, Hoerner is slashing .212/.293/.250 with zero home runs and three RBI over the last 14 days. It's worth noting that Hoerner has recorded a hit in four straight games coming into Thursday's contest against the Athletics. This is hopefully a sign that Hoerner is beginning to snap out of his cold streak at the plate. Fantasy managers should continue to stick with Hoerner through his struggles, as he could be turning the corner very soon.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Matt Shaw Placed on Injured List with Back Tightness
Chicago Cubs utility player Matt Shaw (back) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with mid-back tightness, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. Shaw is expected to miss several weeks. In a corresponding move, top infield prospect Pedro Ramirez was promoted to the majors. Shaw owns a modest .242/.291/.400 slash line with three homers this year, but he had been struggling lately with a 0-for-14 skid. The 24-year-old has mostly come off the bench this season, playing a variety of positions. So far this year, he has played all three outfield spots, as well as first, second, and third base. The right-handed hitter was rostered in just 5% of fantasy leagues before his injury, and his roster share could decrease if managers aren't willing to wait for him to return from the IL.
Source: Jesse Rogers
Source: Jesse Rogers
Cubs Promote Prospect Pedro Ramirez to Majors, Worth an Add Off Waiver Wire?
Chicago Cubs infield prospect Pedro Ramirez has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa. Ramirez has been on the 40-man roster since last November, but he hasn't appeared in a big-league game yet, so his next appearance will be his MLB debut. Signed out of Venezuela in 2021, Ramirez is a 22-year-old infielder capable of playing second and third base. Prior to his promotion, he owned an impressive .312/.395/.547 slash line with nine homers, 40 RBI, 19 steals, a 10.7% walk rate, a 16.3% strikeout rate, and 136 wRC+ across 43 games at Triple-A. He was recently listed as a hitter honorable mention in RotoBaller analyst Eric Cross' list of prospects to stash in fantasy baseball redraft leagues. As a switch-hitter, Ramirez could find his way into the lineup against pitchers of either handedness. That gives him an advantage for playing time and, paired with his power/speed combo, makes him an intriguing waiver wire target in fantasy baseball.
Source: Jesse Rogers
Source: Jesse Rogers
Pedro Ramirez Emerging as a Strong Stash Candidate
Chicago Cubs infield/outfield prospect Pedro Ramirez has methodically climbed the team's minor league ladder, finally landing at Triple-A this season and showing that the steady progress has paid off. The Cubs' second-ranked prospect is hitting .312 through 43 games so far this season, and a 10.7 percent walk rate has helped him to a strong .395 OBP. The switch-hitter is also slugging .547 thanks to a plethora of extra-base hits, including 11 doubles, a triple, and nine home runs. Not only can he hit for power, but the Venezuelan has some speed, too, swiping 19 bags already this year. A low 16.3 percent strikeout rate and 6.2 percent swinging-strike rate show he's not overmatched by Triple-A pitching, and he could be ready for a shot in the majors in the coming weeks. The combination of contact, power, and speed, with the potential to be hitting in a Cubs lineup that is top 10 in the majors in runs scored per game, pushes the 22-year-old into stash consideration for fantasy.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
