(670 The Score) Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner on Tuesday downplayed the severity of the small fracture in his right hand that’s hampering him lately.
The plan was for Hoerner to be out of the Cubs’ starting lineup Tuesday evening when they start a three-game series against the Rays, Hoerner told the Parkins & Spiegel Show, but he feels like he’s close to being his usual self, which explains why the club has refrained from placing him on the injured list.
Hoerner suffered the injury when he was hit in the hand by a fastball in Chicago’s loss at Cincinnati on Thursday. He pinch-ran in the Cubs’ loss Friday and then sat out of games Saturday and Sunday.
Hoerner will be available off the bench Tuesday, he said, as the Cubs open a three-game road series against the Rays.
“The term broken hand has a wide range of things within it, and mine is, fortunately, while still classified as that, is not as limiting as some others, I guess,” Hoerner said. “I’m feeling pretty good. I’ll be available off the bench today and hopefully in there soon. I guess I was fortunate on that end. I thought it would just be bone bruising, but there was small fracture in there.”
Hoerner is confident he can be used off the bench Tuesday as more than just a pinch-runner.
“I feel pretty good to play baseball,” Hoerner said.
Hoerner understands the term “fracture” can be a scary term for fans to hear. Doctors also indicated that there’s little risk of Hoerner making the injury worse by playing.
“It’s confusing for us too,” Hoerner said. “Sometimes, like the word ‘fracture’ is very scary and not what you want to hear. But you also get confidence from the doctor saying things like, ‘It’s as you can tolerate’ and we go from there.
“We’ve got ways to take care of swelling and pain, so I feel pretty good about it.”
Hoerner is hitting .252 with two homers, 17 RBIs and a .697 OPS in 57 games this season.
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