The Absurdity of Nico Hoerner's MLB Top 100 Exclusion

[RandallPnkFloyd]

Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Over the weekend, MLB Network announced their annual list of the Top 100 players in Major League Baseball. The Chicago Cubs were well-represented on the list, with their four names — Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, and Seiya Suzuki — tied for the fourth-most on a given roster. Of course, the more notable aspect of the release of the list is the player that was not included: Nico Hoerner. 

It's not just the fact that Hoerner finished being only Crow-Armstrong as the Cubs' most valuable player by fWAR in 2025 (4.8). Nor is it that said fWAR finished 20th among all position players last year. Either one likely should have qualified him for inclusion, especially when one considers Hoerner's offensive skill set that featured a blend of a 99th percentile strikeout rate (7.6 percent) and whiff rate (11.2 percent), while he finished in the 98th percentile on the other side of the ball in Outs Above Average (14). It's not even that his omission disrespects his value within the broader scope of the sport. It's that it entirely disregards Hoerner's standing within his own position.

MLB Networks' list featured just four players at the keystone: Ketel Marte (No. 19), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (No. 61), Brice Turang (No. 62), and Jose Altuve (No. 81). If not elite, Marte certainly lives in the second tier of positional performers. Chisholm finished with an even split of 31 home runs and 31 steals. Turang had an offensive breakout in his third year in the league, hitting more homers (18) than he did in his first two years combined while adding 24 swipes and playing exemplary defense. Jose Altuve continued to do the things he's always done. If you were to list the top five second basemen in the sport at present, it'd be a tough sell to exclude any of them.

There's a reason Hoerner sat atop the WAR leaderboard for the position, though. He, quite obviously, lacks the power upside of the other four. His .097 isolated power was his lowest in a full season even by his modest standards. That shouldn't understate his value elsewhere, though. Hoerner's contact rate (89.9 percent) was more than seven percent better than Altuve's. His strikeout rate was more than seven percent better than Marte's. His comprehensive baserunning metric (BsR) checked in at 4.5, with Turang's 2.9 checking in second at the position.. And that doesn't include the defensive component. 

Hoerner's OAA (14) at second was miles ahead of each of the names included in the Top 100. Chisholm Jr is the next name on the list of this group at No. 4 (8 OAA). Marte (1) follows at No. 20, with Altuve (0) and Turang (0) bringing their precisely average figures to the table. It's also worth noting that Altuve spent nearly 400 innings in left field while Chisholm Jr was at third base for 238 frames. Not that splitting time at another position should be disqualifying in any way, but if there was any semblance of a positional spread on this list, then it becomes even more perplexing with that fact in mind.

Regardless, when measuring Hoerner against his keystone counterparts, it starts to become clear what this particular list values. Those values do not, apparently, lie in contact, baserunning, or defense, but more likely power. From a positional standpoint, MLB Network wanted louder names on the list than a steady, reliable, contact-oriented hitter with an elite glove. 

Not that we're suggesting that compiling this list is easy. At a given time, there are 780 active players in Major League Baseball. Roughly 12 percent of the league is featured as a result, or roughly three players from every roster if it was evenly spread. Having to include a balance of position players and pitchers makes it all the more cumbersome. Even when you start to reduce some of the percentages as to how many players, on average, might be selected or the overall percentage of names on the list, it's wildly difficult to make a case against Hoerner's inclusion. And we've only discussed it within the context of his position. 

The good news is that a list such of this can be read as arbitrary enough, given the names and selection factors that may have been involved, to ultimately not matter. It's nice to have the loud skill sets on your roster, and the Cubs have some of that scattered throughout this group of players. Ideally, though, a list such as this doesn't lead to an under-appreciation of the stability offered by a player like Nico Hoerner, who is as worthy as any of those who were fortunate enough to be recognized.

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[Victor Reichman]

Absolutely correct article. Hoerner was the overall MVP of position players, especially because PCA had a bad 2nd half. Hoerner was consistent. The Cubs should try to extend both Nico and PCA.

Swanson did not have a good year either offensively or defensively. The talk of trading Nico is foolish. If anyone should be traded to a team in need of good defense up the middle it should be Dansby, altho some of his salary would have to be paid by the Cubs. He may have a no trade clause and he still fields well with some power. But, I would easily trade him before either Nico or Shaw.

 

[chopsx9]

19 hours ago, Victor Reichman said:

Absolutely correct article. Hoerner was the overall MVP of position players, especially because PCA had a bad 2nd half. Hoerner was consistent. The Cubs should try to extend both Nico and PCA.

Swanson did not have a good year either offensively or defensively. The talk of trading Nico is foolish. If anyone should be traded to a team in need of good defense up the middle it should be Dansby, altho some of his salary would have to be paid by the Cubs. He may have a no trade clause and he still fields well with some power. But, I would easily trade him before either Nico or Shaw.

 

Nobody is trading for Dansby without Cubs paying half of his salary.

Edited January 31 by chopsx9
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[Backtobanks]

1 hour ago, chopsx9 said:

Nobody is trading for Dansby without Cubs paying half of his salary.

So, pay it and use the extra money to help sign Gallen or give an extension to Nico.

[chopsx9]

3 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

So, pay it and use the extra money to help sign Gallen or give an extension to Nico.

Surprisingly, it's out of my hands.  Has there be any rumors of interest?  I don't really care about Gallen.  I also don't think Dansby's situation will factor into whether they sign Nico or not.

[JunkyardWalrus]

Or… maybe… now hear me out… this board just has a homer-boner for Hoerner? 

It’s okay, but if it lasts for more than 4 hours, you should get it looked at. 

 

[Rcal10]

13 hours ago, chopsx9 said:

Surprisingly, it's out of my hands.  Has there be any rumors of interest?  I don't really care about Gallen.  I also don't think Dansby's situation will factor into whether they sign Nico or not.

There is nothing out there suggesting the Cubs are interested in trading Dansby. And for got reason, they shouldn’t. He and Happ are just guys people love to hate here,