Jesse Rogers Aug 28, 2026, 07:00 AM ET - In an era of big-money youth baseball, the Chicago Cubs' second baseman took an unusual route to stardom. A broken hand at age 10 could not stop Nico Hoerner. Playing in Oakland's Babe Ruth League, he suffered an injury that would send major leaguers to the injured list. Instead, he picked up a bat with one hand, learned new positions, and kept playing. His desire to compete no matter what it took came as little surprise. Even from his first days, Hoerner was an intense competitor, sometimes too intense. Often the most talented kid on the field, he had trouble keeping his emotions under control. There was sobbing on the mound and questioning umpires. His former youth coach, Eric Clayton, recalled seeing Hoerner throw his glove up in the air and stare down his shortstop after an umpire called a ball.

Hoerner was just 8 years old playing against 10-year-olds in Oakland's ultra-competitive league. His dad, Fred Hoerner, chose the urban league for development rather than more manicured fields with less competition. Playing at Greenman Field and later Lowell Park, Hoerner focused on the details of the sport on all-dirt infields with graffiti on surrounding buildings. To this day, he thinks that all-dirt field made him a better defender. He showed promise right away while navigating his new world with new teammates and coaches. He was tiny, blond, and white, and the parents loved him. They just wanted their own kids to care about something and nobody cared.