Nico Hoerner Named NL Player of the Week, Mason McGwire Named MiLB Pitcher of the Week

I’m in Vegas right now and my time is limited, but I wanted to acknowledge these honors quickly. If you’re wondering, no, I did not attend WrestleMania. I did, however, see rappers Jim Jones and Dave East in my hotel. The latter, who played Method Man in Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, was in my elevator earlier. Good times.

Anyway, let’s get to Nico Hoerner being named the National League Player of the Week after going 9-for-26 with two homers, 11 RBI, and two steals in six games. He is now slashing .325/.402/.518 with three homers, seven steals, and his 21 RBI put him in a tie with Yordan Alvarez and Andy Pages for the MLB lead.

Hoerner is the first Cub to earn PotW honors since Seiya Suzuki last September 29, and he’s just the fifth Cubs player to win it since the start of the 2025 season. Not bad for a leadoff hitter, huh?

Elsewhere in the organization, Mason McGwire was named Minor League Pitcher of the Week. The 22-year-old is the son of Mark McGwire and even had his dad wearing Cubs gear out in Mesa a little while back. After missing all of last season due to injury, the younger McGwire has gone 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA through his first four starts for the Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He has struck out 15 with five walks over 10 innings and could be ticketed for South Bend in the near future.

McGwire has allowed only one hit in each of his appearances this season, the last two of which covered three and four innings. He struck out five with no walks or runs allowed in either of those, hence the award. If he keeps it up, maybe we’ll eventually see his old man in Cubs gear at Wrigley Field. Now, that would be run.