The Chicago Cubs have quietly had a very productive offseason.
They’ve signed Jameson Taillon to boost their starting rotation and have also added pieces such as Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, Eric Hosmer, Trey Mancini, and Tucker Barnhart to bolster their offense.
People may not see it, but the Cubs could potentially emerge as a sneaky contender.
Their middle infield now consists of a solid duo.
Swanson and Nico Hoerner should be an interesting tandem to watch in 2023.
On Twitter, MLB Network posted a graphic featuring both players’ stats, showing just how dangerous the two of them could be this upcoming season.
The new middle infield duo on the North Side 📊 pic.twitter.com/cqIZ3zKDZW
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 2, 2023
Hoerner obviously missed a little time due to injuries, while Swanson remained healthy, so the health of Hoerner is a big X-factor here.
The only category where the two of them aren’t close, at least in terms of their 2022 stats, is home runs.
Swanson belted 25 home runs in his final season with the Atlanta Braves, while Hoerner hit just 10.
But the two are rather close in batting average and in OPS as well.
Hoerner has the edge in average, having hit .281 compared to Swanson’s .277 mark.
Swanson has a slight edge in terms of OPS.
His OPS for 2022 was .776, while Hoerner posted a mark of .736.
But these two should form an interesting duo in the middle of the Cubs infield and could be a key factor in the Cubs potentially returning to contention.
They’ve made frugal, yet impactful moves and could be in a position to challenge the St. Louis Cardinals for the top spot in the NL Central.
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