Cade Horton

Cade Horton Bio

Cade Michael Horton is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). Horton played college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners and was selected by the Cubs in the first round with the seventh overall selection in the 2022 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in May 2025 and quickly established himself as a promising young arm in the Cubs rotation. Through his first two seasons in professional baseball, Horton has compiled a 12-4 record with a 2.66 earned run average and 101 strikeouts across his MLB career.

Early Life and Background

Cade Michael Horton was born on August 20, 2001, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was raised in Norman, Oklahoma, by his parents Mike and Cari Horton. He grew up in a baseball family, following his older brother Cale into the sport. Beyond baseball, Horton also participated in American football during his youth, developing into a dual-sport athlete.

Horton attended Norman High School, where he excelled in both baseball and football. His football achievements were particularly impressive during his senior season, as he passed for 3,084 yards and 26 touchdowns with seven interceptions while also rushing for 1,149 yards and 15 touchdowns. In baseball, Horton batted .375 in five games before the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. He earned the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year honor in baseball for his performance. Horton committed to continue his athletic career at the University of Oklahoma, where he planned to play both baseball and football as a walk-on.

Path to Professional Baseball

Despite his success as a high school athlete in multiple sports, Horton focused his collegiate career on baseball at the University of Oklahoma. He joined the Sooners baseball program with high expectations, but his freshman season (2021) was derailed before it began when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. The injury required Tommy John surgery, forcing him to redshirt the entire year.

Horton returned for what would have been his redshirt freshman season while still recovering from elbow surgery. He began the year playing third base and occasionally pitching in relief. As he continued to heal, he was moved into Oklahoma’s starting rotation, where his stuff began to draw professional attention. His breakthrough came during the 2022 Men’s College World Series, where he started two games for the Sooners. In the MCWS Finals game against Ole Miss, Horton recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts over 7.1 innings, showcasing the stuff that would make him a top draft prospect.

Cade Horton Career

Minor League Career (2022–2025)

Horton’s impressive collegiate performance, particularly his dominant College World Series showing, made him one of the top pitching prospects in the 2022 MLB Draft. The Chicago Cubs selected him in the first round with the seventh overall selection and signed him to a $4.45 million contract. The Norman, Oklahoma native immediately began his professional journey in the Cubs organization.

Horton made his professional debut in 2023, where he split the season between three levels: Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, High-A South Bend Cubs, and Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Across 21 starts at these three affiliates, Horton demonstrated the stuff that justified his high draft selection. He posted a combined 4-4 record with a 2.65 earned run average and an impressive 117 strikeouts across 88.1 innings pitched.

Chicago Cubs Breakthrough (2025–Present)

The 2024 season saw Horton advance to both Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, though a significant shoulder injury limited his availability throughout the year. He managed only a 2-1 record with a 4.46 earned run average across nine starts. The injury concerns did not deter the Cubs’ faith in their top prospect, and Horton began the 2025 season at Triple-A Iowa as the organization’s top pitching prospect.

His six starts at Triple-A were dominant, as he went 2-1 with a remarkable 1.24 earned run average. On May 10, 2025, Horton received the call he had been working toward since being drafted three years earlier. He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time and made his MLB debut that same day against the New York Mets. In his debut, Horton pitched four innings in relief, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five batters. He earned his first career win in that appearance.

After a rocky start to his major league career with a 4.45 earned run average through his first 10 starts, Horton turned his season around dramatically following the All-Star break. From July 20 through the end of the regular season, he went 8-1 with a microscopic 1.03 earned run average, surrendering just seven earned runs across 61.1 innings. Unfortunately, Horton suffered a fractured rib in his final regular season start against the Mets, causing him to miss the remainder of the regular season and the postseason. He finished his rookie campaign with an 11-4 record and a 2.67 earned run average, ultimately finishing as runner-up in National League Rookie of the Year voting.

On April 7, 2026, the Cubs announced that Horton would require season-ending surgery to repair a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. The injury was later revealed to be another Tommy John procedure, the same surgery that cost him his freshman college season in 2021.

Driving Style and Strengths

Horton features a plus fastball that sits in the mid-90s, complementing it with a sharp breaking ball and a changeup that he developed during his time at Oklahoma. His ability to miss bats has been a hallmark throughout his professional career, as evidenced by his impressive strikeout rates at every level. His strikeout-to-inning ratios consistently rank among the best in the Cubs system. Horton attacks hitters early in counts and shows poise under pressure, characteristics that served him well during his memorable College World Series performance. His mechanics and pitchability improved significantly during his minor league development, and he has shown the ability to adjust his approach when hitters make in-game adjustments.

Notable Events and Milestones

Horton’s career has been defined by several significant moments. His 13-strikeout performance in the 2022 College World Series Finals against Ole Miss announced him as one of college baseball’s top arms. The Tommy John surgery in 2021 that cost him his freshman year, followed by his successful return and eventual top-10 draft selection, demonstrated his resilience. His MLB debut on May 10, 2025, against the Mets resulted in his first career win. The second half surge that saw him go 8-1 with a 1.03 earned run average vaulted him into NL Rookie of the Year consideration. Unfortunately, his rookie season ended with another significant injury when a fractured rib cost him postseason play. The 2026 Tommy John surgery represents the latest chapter in what has been an injury-plagued but promising career.

Cade Horton Career Wins

Through his first season and a half in professional baseball, Horton has accumulated wins across multiple levels of the minor leagues and the major leagues. His win total reflects both his individual talent and the quality of teams around him throughout his development.

MLB Highlights

In his rookie season with the Chicago Cubs in 2025, Horton went 11-4 with a 2.67 earned run average across 24 appearances including 21 starts. His second half dominance, going 8-1 with a 1.03 earned run average over his final 12 starts, highlighted his ability to make in-season adjustments at the highest level. The season was cut short when a fractured rib in his final start cost him the postseason, but his performance earned him second place in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Through the 2026 season, Horton has compiled a 12-4 career major league record with a 2.66 earned run average and 101 strikeouts.

Minor League Highlights

Prior to his MLB promotion, Horton established himself as one of the Cubs top prospects through his work in the minor leagues. His 2023 season saw him go a combined 4-4 across three levels with a 2.65 earned run average and 117 strikeouts in 88.1 innings. The 2024 season was shortened by injury, but he managed a 2-1 record with a 4.46 earned run average at the Triple-A level. His six starts at Triple-A Iowa in 2025 before his promotion produced a 2-1 record and a 1.24 earned run average, the best marks of his minor league career.

Cade Horton Family

Family Background and Baseball Lineage

Cade Horton comes from a baseball family rooted in Oklahoma. His father Mike and mother Cari raised him in Norman, Oklahoma. He is the middle child among five siblings, with his older brother Cale also pursuing baseball. The Horton brothers both played at Norman High School, where Cale helped introduce Cade to the game at a young age. This family connection to baseball provided Cade with early exposure and mentorship that helped shape his path toward professional baseball.

Personal Life

Beyond baseball, Horton has maintained connections to his roots in Oklahoma while building his professional career in Chicago. He married Blaire Davis on December 4, 2024, in the Dominican Republic. The couple’s wedding represented a personal milestone during what would become a pivotal year in Horton’s professional career, as he would later make his MLB debut and enjoy a successful rookie season. Horton continues to draw on his experiences as a multi-sport athlete, having played both football and baseball through high school, believing the cross-training benefited his development as a pitcher.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Horton’s introduction to major league baseball following three years of minor league development interrupted by injury. After beginning the year at Triple-A Iowa where he dominated with a 1.24 earned run average, he received the call to Chicago in May. His debut against the Mets resulted in a win, but his first 10 starts showed the typical adjustment period for a rookie pitcher facing major league hitters for the first time. The Cubs showed patience with their top prospect, allowing him to work through early struggles while refining his approach.

Following the All-Star break, Horton transformed into one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League. Over his final 12 starts of the regular season, he posted an 8-1 record with a 1.03 earned run average, striking out opposing hitters at an exceptional rate while limiting hard contact. His mid-season surge positioned the Cubs for postseason contention and made him a legitimate NL Rookie of the Year candidate. The fractured rib suffered in his final regular season start ended his campaign on a disappointing note but could not diminish what he accomplished in his debut major league season.

Finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting, losing to Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves, validated what scouts and coaches had seen throughout Horton’s development. The combination of his electric stuff, ability to make adjustments, and composure in high-pressure situations suggested a bright future ahead. Despite the injury that ended his 2025 season prematurely and the Tommy John surgery that would end his 2026 season before it truly began, Horton has demonstrated the talent and makeup that made him the seventh overall pick in 2022.