NEWSLETTER
I’d forgotten that, in addition to the talent and experience difference in jumping from Double-A competition to Triple-A competition, there are a couple logistical changes for players. First, there is the automated balls and strikes system (fully automated half the week, challenge-based half the week). Second, for pitchers, there is the Major League baseball (that’s the one they now use at Triple-A, which is different from the one used at lower levels).
None of that is to say, oh, hey, that’s TOTALLY why Cade Horton didn’t dominate immediately upon his promotion to Triple-A. Frankly, I wouldn’t have worried either way. This is all just development process. But, it nevertheless provides me some additional context when thinking through his trajectory.
This last time out, Horton’s fourth start at Iowa, the Cubs’ top pitching prospect was quite a bit better. Over 5.0 innings (79 pitches), Horton allowed two runs on four hits and one walk, with six strikeouts. He got 12 whiffs, posted a strong 30% CSW, and the contact quality for hitters was generally crummy.
It was just a good outing all over for Cade Horton, and that’s before you consider that one of those runs came courtesy of some plays in the field that probably wouldn’t happen at the big league level. The other run was a homer, so, yeah, that one’s on him.
