Chicago Cubs Promote Top Pitching Prospect Cade Horton Ahead of Weekend Series vs. Mets
The first-place Chicago Cubs are bolstering their pitching staff ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated series against the New York Mets by calling up top prospect Cade Horton from Triple-A Iowa. The move, first reported by Des Moines Register‘s Tommy Birch, signals a major milestone in the 23-year-old’s promising young career.
Horton, the Cubs’ first-round pick and seventh overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, is widely regarded as the top pitching prospect in the Cubs’ farm system. He is ranked No. 46 overall on MLB.com’s and The Athletic’s Top 100 Prospects lists.
After a shoulder injury limited him to just nine appearances in 2024, Horton has made a strong return this season. In six starts with Triple-A Iowa, he has posted an impressive 1.24 ERA, recording 33 strikeouts over 26 innings. While his command remains an area of focus — he has issued 13 walks — Cubs leadership remains optimistic about his readiness for the big stage.
“Throwing noncompetitive pitches in the big leagues puts you in bad counts pretty quickly — counts that you can probably pitch out of in Triple-A easier than you can in the big leagues,” said Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer in a recent interview with The Athletic. “The consistency of your pitches is key. The difference between a 1-2 count and a 2-2 count is a pretty big deal. That’s probably the biggest thing he’s been working on.”
Horton is expected to make his Major League debut on Saturday at Wrigley Field, sandwiched between scheduled starts from Jameson Taillon on Friday and Matthew Boyd on Sunday. With five days of rest since his last outing, the timing aligns perfectly for Horton’s long-anticipated debut.
His addition comes at a pivotal time, as the Cubs look to maintain momentum atop the National League Central. The team’s starting rotation has been among the league’s best, ranking fourth in the NL with a collective 3.57 ERA. Standout performances from Colin Rea (2.43 ERA), Shota Imanaga (2.82), and Boyd (2.75) have helped anchor the staff. However, Imanaga was recently placed on the injured list after sustaining a hamstring injury, creating an opening that Horton is set to fill.
The Cubs are hopeful that Horton can translate his minor league dominance to the majors and provide a boost during a critical stretch of the season. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as one of baseball’s most exciting young arms takes the mound for his MLB debut.
Photo: Ryan Dickey. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.