Cade Horton Named Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year for Breakout Cubs Campaign

Cade Horton shines as the Sporting News National League Rookie of the Year, showcasing impressive stats and strong performance.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton has been named the Sporting News National League Rookie of the Year, capping a remarkable rookie campaign that provided both hope and stability to the Cubs’ rotation in 2025.

Horton, a former first-round pick out of Oklahoma, was thrust into a crucial role after an early season-ending injury to ace Justin Steele. Called up in May, Horton immediately delivered, making 22 starts and one relief appearance for the Cubs. He finished the year with a 2.67 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and limited opponents to just 10 home runs over 118 innings.

Dominance Down the Stretch

While Horton’s early success made him a key part of the rotation, his second half was nothing short of spectacular. The rookie caught fire in July, posting a 1.03 ERA across his final 12 starts and allowing more than one earned run only once in that span.

Even without gaudy strikeout totals, Horton excelled at inducing soft contact and keeping hitters off balance, a skill that often eludes pitchers in their first taste of the majors.

Story continues below.

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A Trusted Arm in the Push for October

Horton was sidelined by injury in October, but his regular-season impact was undeniable as the Cubs chased a postseason berth. He became the club’s first Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year honoree since Kris Bryant in 2015, joining an exclusive group of Cubs newcomers celebrated for their immediate impacts at Wrigley Field.

As Chicago aims to build on a promising season, Horton’s award is a testament to his poise, pitchability, and ability to rise to the moment. Expectations will be high moving forward for the you starter but for now, Horton’s breakout year is cause for celebration all across Wrigleyville.