Cade Horton

23-Year-Old PitcherP
Chicago Cubs AAA
60-Day IL
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 3/1/2025
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Seemingly everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Horton in 2024, and he went from one of the top pitching prospects in the game to a high-risk flyer in dynasty leagues. There were red flags from the jump, with Horton surprisingly not getting assigned to big-league spring training, and then curiously getting sent back to Double-A to start the year, rather than Triple-A. Once he got the bump to Triple-A at the end of April and we could track his starts on Statcast, it became clear that Horton was sitting 93 mph and touching 95 mph with his fastball after sitting at 95-97 mph in 2023 (touching 98 mph). Unsurprisingly, he was shut down with a shoulder strain at the end of May, and he never returned following an August setback. Horton had Tommy John surgery while at Oklahoma and his 88.1 innings in 2023 were a career high, so when factoring in his 2024 shoulder injury, the durability risk is off the charts. His slider is good enough that he could still end up being a closer or a 120-140 inning per year starter, but it makes more sense to hold or cash out this offseason than to buy in dynasty leagues. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
From Preseason
$Signed a contract with the Cubs in July of 2022.
Set for shoulder exam
PChicago Cubs  AAA
Shoulder
November 6, 2024
Horton will undergo an exam on his right shoulder in mid-November in hopes of gaining clearance to begin a throwing program, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Horton missed the final four months of the 2024 season due to a moderate subscapularis strain in his pitching shoulder. If he's able to begin throwing this month, the 23-year-old should have a relatively normal offseason. Horton got off to a great start at Double-A Tennessee (1.10 ERA) this season but posted a 7.50 ERA in five starts with Triple-A Iowa before getting injured. He is likely to return to Iowa to begin 2025 but, if healthy, has a good shot to enter the Cubs' rotation at some point during the season.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
Assuming Horton, who had Tommy John surgery in 2021 while at Oklahoma, stayed healthy and showed similar stuff to what he displayed in the 2022 College World Series, he figured to rank as one of the game's top pitching prospects after his first full season, and that's exactly where things stand. The 6-foot-1 righty boasts a mid-90s fastball that regularly touches 98 mph. He also has one of the best sliders in the minors -- a high-spin mid-80s offering. He throws a changeup and curveball, but he doesn't need those pitches much to dominate when he's locating his fastball. Horton tallied 88.1 innings in 21 starts across Single-A, High-A and Double-A. He spent over half the season at High-A, where he had three blowup starts and still managed a 1.00 WHIP and 3.83 ERA. Horton had a seven-start stretch to close the year where he had a 1.16 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 31 innings. He also had a six-start run in the first half at High-A where he had a 1.30 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP with 46 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. We're still waiting to see if he can handle a big-league starter's workload, but Horton has the stuff to dominate at the highest level. Last year, we saw many teams push upper-level pitchers of Horton's caliber to the big leagues quicker than in past years, so a first-half MLB debut could happen for Horton.
A draft-eligible sophomore from Oklahoma who had Tommy John surgery in 2021, Horton increased his draft stock with a dominant performance in the College World Series, showcasing a deadly repertoire of hard, high-spin offerings. A former two-way talent and two-sport athlete (he also played quarterback), Horton's future is now squarely on the mound after his exploits for the Sooners in the postseason, including 40 strikeouts in his final four starts. The Cubs snagged him with the seventh overall pick and gave him $4.45 million (under slot). The 6-foot-1, 211-pound righty has a prototypical four-seamer that touches 98 mph and darts away from barrels. His mid-80s slider (touches 90 mph) might be his best pitch, as he can land it for strikes or get ugly swings when he buries it in the dirt. His curveball and changeup need further development, and he threw only 53.2 innings in college, which adds some uncertainty regarding his ability to handle a starter's workload. However, the fact he is healthy and finished strong against the best teams in the country makes him an appealing high-upside option in a muddled pitching class. He will make his pro debut in 2023.
More Fantasy News
Likely out for season
PChicago Cubs  AAA
Lat
August 14, 2024
Horton recently suffered a setback in his rehab for a right lat strain and isn't expected to return from Triple-A Iowa's 60-day injured list this season, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Shut down 3-to-4 weeks
PChicago Cubs  AAA
Lat
June 4, 2024
Horton (lat) was diagnosed with a subscapular strain Tuesday and will be shut down from throwing for 3-to-4 weeks, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Nursing lat issue at Triple-A
PChicago Cubs  AAA
Lat
May 30, 2024
Horton was removed Wednesday from his start with Triple-A Iowa due to right lat soreness, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Velocity slightly down from 2023
PChicago Cubs  AAA
May 14, 2024
Horton averaged 93.4 mph (touched 94.9 mph) with his fastball in his first start for Triple-A Iowa on May 4 and averaged 93.9 mph (touched 95.5 mph) in his second start May 10 after sitting at 95-97 mph with his fastball and regularly touching 98 mph in 2023.
ANALYSIS
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Moving up to Triple-A
PChicago Cubs  AAA
April 30, 2024
Horton has been promoted from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa, Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
MLB debut on horizon
PChicago Cubs  AAA
September 4, 2023
It would be a "surprise if the Cubs don't promote Cade Horton to the majors this year," in the eyes of Jim Bowden of The Athletic.
ANALYSIS
Horton has yet to graduate beyond Double-A, but his results thus far have been dominant. The 22-year-old owns a 1.56 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through five starts -- comparable to his 3.82 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 11 Single-A starts prior. The No.7 overall pick from the 2022 Draft is showcasing notable command and 12.2 K/9 stuff.
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