NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs fans, hold your breath: Cade Horton is set to make his much-anticipated major league debut on Saturday.
Just ahead of the Cubs’ series opener against the New York Mets on Friday, the 23-year-old right-handed pitcher joined the team’s taxi squad. Horton was drafted by Chicago as the seventh overall pick in the 2022 amateur draft, and now he’s ready to take the next big step in his career.
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Manager Craig Counsell hasn’t confirmed Horton as the starting pitcher for Saturday’s game, especially since Shota Imanaga was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left hamstring earlier this week.
“The plan is to get through tonight and see where we’re at,” Counsell noted. “He will be active (Saturday).”
So far this season, Horton has dazzled in Triple-A Iowa, boasting an impressive 2-1 record, a minuscule 1.24 ERA, and a remarkable 33 strikeouts over 29 innings. In fact, he has limited opponents to one run or fewer in each of his first six starts this year.
“He’s the guy that’s pitching the best at Iowa,” Counsell praised. “He’s earned this opportunity.”
Last season, Horton faced challenges with a right lat injury and managed to make only nine starts across Iowa and Double-A Tennessee. When he received the news about his promotion to the majors, the first call he made was to his wife, followed by a joyful announcement to his parents and the rest of his family.
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“It was really cool being able to share that with them,” Horton shared, reflecting on that special moment.
This spring, Horton made a noteworthy appearance in major league camp, even stepping up as the starting pitcher in a breakout game against prospects from the Los Angeles Angels.
“He’s learning about himself as much as anything, and these experiences are incredibly valuable for him,” said Counsell. “As we headed into spring training with Cade, it was clear that he’s a talented pitcher, and we believed that if we laid a strong foundation for him, he’d make a significant impact on this team.”
Adding to the Cubs’ roster changes, left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar was placed on the paternity list before Friday’s game, prompting the recall of left-hander Tom Cosgrove from Triple-A Iowa.
Thielbar, at 38 years old, holds a 1-1 record alongside one save and a 3.29 ERA across 16 appearances this season.
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