WATCH: Nico Hoerner provides update after undergoing surgery

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - 8 hours ago

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner spoke to the media about his recovery from injury, expectations for the 2025 season, playing in Japan and more.

“We’re still working towards that,” Hoerner said of throwing in practice. “The throwing program has been going for a little while now. Making progress in that. Learning a ton.

“Definitely more detail in a throwing program than anything I’ve ever done before. I think it’ll definitely help me return to not just being healthy but a better thrower than I’ve been before, so I’m excited for that.”

Hoerner hopes that he can make the trip to Japan to face off against the Dodgers.

“I don’t want to miss anything,” Hoerner said. “Japan, we’re going to talk about that a lot, obviously. But it’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing to play last year’s World Champions and be able to celebrate the Japanese players on our team and the place that they learned to love the game and play in front of some of the fans that love baseball.

“I feel like we’ve seen some just incredible players from Japan in recent years. Never been to Asia. Yeah, I want to go on that trip but I don’t know if I will. We’ll see. I hope so, but we’ll see.”

Watch the interview below:

Video summary/cliff-notes:

(00:01) Nico Hoerner provides an update on his recovery from flexor tendon surgery, which he underwent on October 11th. He is pleased with his progress and optimistic about his return.

(00:33) He has started a throwing program but has not yet thrown from the field. He aims not only to regain his form but to become a better thrower.

(01:04) He played through significant pain last season, which affected his throwing ability and defensive performance.

(01:41) Hoerner emphasizes the importance of returning at full strength, not just at a compromised level, and aims to be able to play shortstop effectively again.

(03:22) Despite overlapping injuries, including a broken hand, he continued playing second base, which allowed him to manage his throwing limitations.

(04:30) His throwing program is structured, but progression depends on both physical recovery and building confidence for a full season.

(05:32) He hopes to be ready for the team’s trip to Japan but is uncertain about his availability.

(06:05) Hoerner believes this is the best roster he has been part of, with strong additions and internal improvements making the team a contender.

(07:06) He praises new addition Tucker for excelling in all aspects of baseball and making teammates better.

(09:49) He admires young players stepping up and believes their development will be key to the team’s success this season.

(11:27) Mental skills have been crucial in his recovery, allowing time for reflection while staying focused on returning to full health.

(12:25) He acknowledges the team’s efforts to sign Alex Bregman but understands the challenges of free agency. He remains optimistic about potential roster additions before the trade deadline.