Hoerner attended Head-Royce School in Oakland, California, where he played soccer, basketball, and baseball. He played for the varsitybaseball team all four years of high school and in 2015, as a senior, batted.517 with six home runs, 30 RBIs, and 40 runs scored. He was not drafted out of high school in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. Hoerner then enrolled at Stanford University to play college baseball for the Stanford Cardinal. In 2016, as a freshman, Hoerner started 53 of Stanford's 54 games at second base, batting.254 with 53 hits, 24 RBIs, and eight doubles. After the season, he played in the Northwoods League where he hit.304 with two home runs, 31 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, and 12 doubles in 257 at-bats. As a sophomore at Stanford in 2017, Hoerner switched positions, moving to shortstop. He started all 58 of Stanford's games that year and slashed.307/.357/.406 with 18 doubles, one home run, and 33 RBIs. Hoerner was named to the All-Pac-12 and All-Pac-12 Defensive teams. That summer, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox where he batted.301 with six home runs, 30 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and eight doubles. As a junior in 2018, Hoerner batted.345 with two home runs, 40 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases and was named to the All-Pac-12 team for the second straight year.
Professional career
Hoerner was selected 24th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and signed for a $2.724 million signing bonus. He made his professional debut with the Arizona League Cubs, was reassigned to the Eugene Emeralds in June, and was promoted to the South Bend Cubs on July 11. However, he was placed on the disabled list on July 18 with a strained ligament in his left elbow, and was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. In 14 games between the three teams prior to his injury, he hit.327 with two home runs, six RBIs, and six stolen bases. After the season, he was assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. Hoerner began 2019 with the Tennessee Smokies. He was placed on the injured list on April 27 after being hit on his left wrist, and returned to play in early July. Over seventy games with the Smokies, he slashed.284/.344/.399 with three home runs, 22 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. The Cubs selected Hoerner's contract and promoted him to the major leagues on September 9, 2019, making him the first player from his draft class to make it to the majors. He made his major league debut that night versus the San Diego Padres. Hoerner got the start at shortstop and went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a single in his first at-bat against Cal Quantrill. Over twenty games for the Cubs, Hoerner batted.282 with three home runs and 17 RBIs.
