Nico Hoerner says he pretty much hasn’t taken a grounder at second base since shortstop Dansby Swanson went down with a bruised left heel July 5. The extra pregame defensive work he has been putting in to handle starting at shortstop every game since Swanson went on the injured list provides a bit of context to his slow month offensively.
‘‘I’ve definitely been late a lot in general recently,’’ Hoerner said amid struggles that have seen him hit .176/.256/.257 with an elevated strikeout rate in July.
