Chicago Cubs Top Prospect Sharp in First Tennessee Start

The Chicago Cubs keep calling pitching prospect Cade Horton up the minor-league ladder and he keeps impressing wherever he goes.

The latest impression came at Double-A Tennessee, where Horton made his first start for the Smokies last week and, well, gave Cubs brass another reason to believe Horton could be a rotation answer as soon as next season.

Horton thresw four innings in his debut against Chattanooga. He gave up two hits. He struck out six. He didn’t allow a run or a walk. He threw just 57 pitches and 41 of them were strikes.

He made it look all too easy, honestly. It’s impressive. This is Horton’s first professional season and he’s been promoted twice — not that he’s keeping track.

“What I can control is going out there and performing well,” Horton said per MLB.com. “Just taking it one pitch at a time. So, I just focus on what I can control and don’t worry about anything else.”

Horton is the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect per MLB.com, and while he’s considered a 2025 call-up, he’s also a seasoned college pitcher who is pushing for a faster trip to Wrigley Field.

He started the season at Class-A Myrtle Beach after the Cubs rested him for the rest of the 2022 season after taking him No. 7 overall in last July’s draft. He didn’t claim a decision for the Pelicans, but in four starts and 14.1 innings he was overpowering, giving up just eight hits and two runs while striking out 21 and walking four.

That prompted a promotion to High Class-A South Bend on May 9. After a bumpy start, Horton found a groove with the Cubs, finishing 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 11 starts. He gave up 22 runs (20 earned) and struck out 65 against 12 walks.

That was enough for the Cubs, who called Horton up to Tennessee last Sunday.

The Cubs knew they were getting a polished college pitcher when they took Horton out of Oklahoma. With the Sooners, Horton had to redshirt his freshman year after tearing his UCL ligament, which required Tommy John surgery.

Horton helped lead the Sooners to the College World Series last season, when they reached the championship series and he earned All-Tournament honors. He had a 2.61 ERA in the Sooners’ postseason run and struck out a combined 24 hitters in CWS games against Notre Dame and Ole Miss.

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