CLEVELAND — This was supposed to be the season that Cade Horton went from rookie phenom to team ace. But just 17 pitches into his second start of the season, it’s all question marks as to Horton’s status going forward after he exited with what was announced as right forearm tightness.
“You take a pitcher out of the game in the second inning, you’re concerned,” Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “We gotta let doctors look at it, probably get imaging. That’s concerning in itself.”
After a 1-2-3 first inning against the Guardians on Friday, the young righty issued a rare walk to start the second, the final pitch a 94.2 mph heater. Then his second pitch to Bo Naylor registered at 93.8 (Horton was sitting 96 in the first) and he immediately motioned to the dugout.
Counsell came out with trainer Nick Frangella. After a brief discussion, Horton walked off the mound. His day was done.
“For sure,” Horton said about feeling frustrated after he walked off the mound. “I (feel) like I do everything the right way to try and stay healthy and things pop up. Just have to deal with them and move on.”
Horton said some tightness in his wrist popped up during the game, and as he went along, that tightness moved into his forearm. Counsell said this would likely lead to an IL stint.
After the 4-1 loss, Counsell and Horton did strike a slightly optimistic tone.
“I just wanted to be smart about it,” Horton said. “I’ve been in this spot before and I’ve taken the other route where I keep going. And then it ends up being worse. So just try to make a mature decision and end it there.
“I’m pretty hopeful. I’m erring on the cautious side. I felt like I made the right move even though it sucks doing that, putting the bullpen and everyone else in that situation.”
The sight of seeing a dejected Horton walk off the mound had doomsday scenarios running through everyone’s minds. But the early word out of the clubhouse gave some reason for hope. Still, as Counsell reminded everyone, getting sent back to Chicago to see a doctor and get imaging done doesn’t exactly ease concerns.
Until the results come back, there will be a nagging feeling for everyone associated with the Cubs.
Horton underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 while he was at the University of Oklahoma. That procedure didn’t stop the Cubs from selecting him seventh overall in the 2022 draft after he returned and had a brilliant stretch for the Sooners in the College World Series. Horton quickly became a top prospect before a shoulder injury sidelined him for most of 2024.
Last spring, he came into camp healthy and determined to put his injuries behind him. By May, with Justin Steele out for the season and Shota Imanaga on the IL, Horton was called up. After a rough start in Houston, Horton took off. He dominated down the stretch, finishing the season with a 2.67 ERA.
However, a late-September start against the New York Mets that looked like a tune-up before October was his final outing of the season. He exited after three innings with what was diagnosed as a broken rib.
After sitting through October, Horton followed up his NL Rookie of the Year runner-up season with a strong 2026 debut (6 1/3 innings of two-run ball against the Washington Nationals).
Horton is a key part of the Cubs rotation, a potential front-end starter who has ace upside. Along with Edward Cabrera, who the Cubs acquired in an offseason trade, the pure stuff in Chicago’s rotation had jumped a level compared to last year. The dream of what Horton could be and what heights he can reach are, for now at least, put on hold.
“It’s the hardest thing to replace,” Counsell said. “And you don’t replace people like Cade. But we feel like at least next time through we’re gonna have, whoever starts will be a strong option. Then we’ll go from there.”
Whether it’s a brief absence or not, Counsell and his staff must decide how to move forward. The addition of Cabrera was partly made to build as much rotation depth as possible. Two potential starters, Colin Rea — who replaced Horton and allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings — and Ben Brown, are already in the bullpen.
Javier Assad is at Triple A, stretched and out and ready when needed. Steele isn’t eligible to come off the 60-day IL until May 24, but his timeline still isn’t clear. He could be ready as soon as he’s eligible or potentially deeper into the summer. Top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins has made just one start — albeit a strong one — at Triple-A Iowa. With both command and injury issues in his past, it’s still too early to call him up.
There’s no denying this is a big blow to the Cubs. Last summer, they survived the loss of Steele and two months without Imanaga. But this felt like the beginning of something special with Horton. Losing him for an extended period of time, or even the whole year, greatly impacts a team that has World Series aspirations.
“A season requires people to step up if you want to accomplish your goals,” Counsell said. “You’d like to avoid it for as long as you can during a season. And hopefully, the things that happen are not (season-ending) like in Steele’s case (last year). But you need guys to step up.”