NEWSLETTER
THERE it is. It felt like it should be coming for a long time (I couldn’t help but discuss it multiple times), and now it’s here: top Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton is getting the bump to the next level.
Cade Horton is now on the doorstep of the big leagues:
Horton, 22, was the Cubs’ first round draft pick in 2022, selected 7th overall. His pro debut season in 2023 was about as dominant as a season can be, with him climbing from Low-A to High-A to Double-A, and pitching right on into the playoffs.
Horton returned to Double-A to open this season for reasons only the Cubs know, and he responded by simply doing what he does: 1.10 ERA over four starts, 29.0% K rate, 3.2% BB rate, 0.92 WHIP. It’s hard to pitch much better.
So now Horton will get the challenge of Triple-A, as he continues to stretch out to a pitch count that COULD be useable in the big leagues as a starting pitcher before this season is up. I don’t know that the Cubs want to rush Horton, but I also think that there’s a chance he is simply too good not to be contributing to the big league club in some way. Those are valuable bullets he’s using, and if there aren’t VERY VALUABLE developmental moments still to be gleaned at Triple-A, then I think there’s little reason not to find big league innings for Horton sooner rather than later.
But we’ll see how it actually plays out. I don’t think we should assume Horton is definitely too good for Triple-A, or that there won’t be moments where he still has things to learn. There is also the matter of managing his workload and high-stress moments so that he CAN be available to the big league Cubs in the second half (as a starter, or even if he just gets initial exposure in relief).
I’m just excited that the progress is continuing, and now we’ll get to see Horton face a new challenge.
