{"id":662308,"date":"2026-04-04T05:51:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T05:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/662308\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T05:51:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T05:51:14","slug":"cade-horton-had-tears-in-his-eyes-after-exiting-early-with-forearm-discomfort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/662308\/","title":{"rendered":"Cade Horton ‘Had Tears in His Eyes’ After Exiting Early with Forearm Discomfort –"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cade Horton<\/a> left Friday\u2019s start in the second inning after calling for trainer Nick Frangella following a fastball that came in about two ticks below his season average. The Cubs are calling it right forearm discomfort, but Marquee\u2019s Taylor McGregor noted that the righty had tears in his eyes as he headed to the clubhouse. Forearm issues are often either precursors of or euphemisms for UCL issues, and Horton has previously undergone Tommy John<\/a> surgery. When combined with the velo dip, it\u2019s hard to be optimistic about the eventual diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Cade Horton has exited today\u2019s game. pic.twitter.com\/SGTWCffI6c<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

We knew the Cubs\u2019 pitching depth would be tested at some point this season, but the possibility of it happening right away with the pitcher expected to be their ace is not great. That would mark the second year in a row they\u2019ve suffered such a loss, with Justin Steele<\/a> going down to an elbow injury in his fourth start of 2025. If there\u2019s a silver lining, it\u2019s that losing Horton early \u2014 if this is indeed a season-ender \u2014 means the Cubs have more time to adjust.<\/p>\n

Steele could return by late May, Edward Cabrera<\/a> looks as good as advertised so far, and Matthew Boyd<\/a> has gotten 20 whiffs in each of his first two starts (per Christopher Kamka<\/a>, no Cubs pitcher did that once last year). None of that makes up for the possible loss of Horton, but this team was built to weather a storm or two. The roster was also built to be competitive for years to come, so Horton will still have a chance to be an impact arm down the road.<\/p>\n

More to come.<\/p>\n

Update: Craig Counsell said after the game<\/a> that Horton will return to Chicago for imaging, and that this will result an IL stint. Horton\u2019s pain began in his wrist before becoming forearm tightness, so it was a matter of precaution. The team is approaching this with what appears to be optimism, but it\u2019s not as though they\u2019re going to panic publicly right out of the gate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had some tightness in my wrist,\u201d Horton told reporters after the game. \u201cAnd then, as the game went on, started to move into my forearm. And so I just wanted to err on the cautious side and really not try to hurt anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fingers crossed that his \u201cmature decision\u201d is indeed just a matter of caution.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n