Cade Horton

Cade Horton

23-Year-Old PitcherP
Chicago Cubs AAA
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
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#392
ADP
$Signed a contract with the Cubs in July of 2022.
Effective in second spring start
PChicago Cubs  AAA
March 22, 2025
Horton tossed two scoreless innings in Friday's Cactus League game against the Padres. He allowed a hit and two walks while striking out one.
ANALYSIS
Horton started a spring training game back on March 8 and got another turn Friday. The 23-year-old pitched at both Double-A and Triple-A last year, and he figures to return to Triple-A Iowa this season for an extended look at that level. If Horton pitches well there, he could push for his MLB debut at some point in the summer, though Chicago would have to open up a spot on its 40-man roster to make room for the young righty. He's an intriguing prospect who would have some fantasy appeal once he makes it to the majors.
Read More News
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
Minor League Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Cade Horton See More
Mound Musings: A Look at Pitching in the NL Central
29 days ago
Brad Johnson covers pitching in the National League Central, and in Cincinnati, Nick Lodolo is a starting pitcher to keep an eye on.
Farm Futures: Top 100 Fantasy Baseball Rookies For 2025
45 days ago
James Anderson releases his top 100 prospects for 2025 fantasy baseball leagues, in which Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews' massive stolen-base upside places him in the top tier!
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
Makes spring debut
PChicago Cubs  AAA
March 9, 2025
Horton (shoulder) gave up one earned run on one hit and struck out one over one inning in Saturday's 9-8 win over the Mariners in Cactus League play.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Completes bullpen session
PChicago Cubs  AAA
Shoulder
February 24, 2025
Horton (shoulder) faced four batters during a brief bullpen session Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Throwing light mound sessions
PChicago Cubs  AAA
Shoulder
January 21, 2025
Horton (shoulder) has been throwing light "touch-and-feel" sessions off the mound, Ryan Herrera of Just Baseball reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this 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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
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.
See All MLB Rumors