The Chicago Cubs called up their No. 2 prospect on the MLBPipeline Top 30 list, right-handed pitcher Cade Horton, ahead of their three-game road series against the New York Mets, Tommy Birch of USA Today reported on May 8. Horton is ranked No. 46 on the MLBPipeline Top 100 prospect list.
Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect Cade Horton is expected to join the team in New York this week.
Here's what we know. https://t.co/KwSkI17X4O
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) May 8, 2025
The Cubs, currently 22-16, will play the 24-14 Mets on Friday, May 9, at 7:10 p.m. EDT in New York.
The 23-year-old from Oklahoma City, Okla., was the seventh overall pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft and signed for $4.45 million on July 23, 2022, after his freshman year.
Horton only played one season at the University of Oklahoma in 2022 after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament, which required Tommy John surgery and forced him to redshirt in 2021.
Horton was a two-way player in his freshman season at Oklahoma, appearing in 25 games at third base before converting to a full-time pitcher for the rest of 2022.
Horton posted a 5-2 record at Oklahoma and made 14 appearances, including 11 starts, finishing with a 4.86 ERA over 53.2 innings. He allowed 55 hits, 29 earned runs, eight home runs, 15 walks, 64 strikeouts, and had a 1.304 WHIP before signing with the Cubs.
In his first professional season in 2023, Horton made 21 starts across Low-A Myrtle Beach, High-A South Bend, and Double-A Tennessee, going 4-4 with a 2.65 ERA. He threw 88.1 innings, allowed 61 hits, 26 earned runs, seven home runs, 27 walks, struck out 117 batters, and posted a 0.996 WHIP.
Last season, Horton split time between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.
He started nine games in 2024, going 2-1 with a 4.46 ERA. Over 34.1 innings, he allowed 30 hits, 17 earned runs, five home runs, 13 walks, struck out 40, and recorded a 1.252 WHIP.
Horton landed on the 60-day injured list on July 24, 2024, and was activated on November 3 before reporting to minor league camp.
He made two appearances and one start during spring training, recording one save, throwing three innings, posting a 3.00 ERA, allowing two hits, one earned run, one home run, two walks, and two strikeouts.
Horton began the 2025 season with Triple-A Iowa, starting six games and going 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA. He threw 29 innings, allowed 12 hits, four earned runs, two home runs, 13 walks, struck out 33, and was promoted to the bigs.
Over three minor league seasons, Horton compiled an 8-6 record with a 2.79 ERA in 36 starts. He threw 151.2 innings, allowed 103 hits, 47 earned runs, 14 home runs, 53 walks, 190 strikeouts, and posted a 1.029 WHIP.
During Horton’s minor league career in 2023, he was selected as an MiLB.com Organization All-Star and a Baseball America Minor League All-Star with Double-A Tennessee.
According to Horton’s profile on Baseball Savant, “Horton’s plus-plus mid-80s slider with two-plane depth was as effective as ever last season, producing a 49 percent chase rate and 50 percent swing-and-miss rate. His fastball dipped slightly when his shoulder began bothering him, but when healthy, he operates in the mid 90s and peaks at 98 mph with carry and run. He’ll use a low-80s curveball to give hitters a different look, while his upper-80s changeup has some fade and can miss bats, but he has trouble throwing it for strikes.”
Horton’s scouting grades on Baseball Savant consist of his Fastball at 60, Curveball at 50, Slider at 70, Changeup at 45, Control at 55 and Overall at 55.
The Cubs have not yet announced when Horton will make his debut and do not have an assigned starting pitcher for their Saturday matchup on the road against the Mets as of yet.
