| Cade Horton | |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs – No. 22 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (2001-08-20)August 20, 2001 (age 24) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 10, 2025, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 11–4 |
| Earned run average | 2.67 |
| Strikeouts | 97 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Cade Michael Horton (born August 20, 2001) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theChicago Cubs ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). Horton playedcollege baseball for theOklahoma Sooners and was selected by the Cubs in the first round with the seventh overall selection in the2022 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2025.
Horton was born August 20, 2001, inOklahoma City, Oklahoma,[1] and was raised inNorman, Oklahoma, by his parents Mike and Cari.[2] He followed his older brother Cale intobaseball but took upAmerican football as well.[2] Horton attendedNorman High School, where he played baseball and football.[3] Horton committed to play college baseball atOklahoma and to join the school's football team as a walk-on.[4] In his senior football season, he passed for 3,084 yards and 26 touchdowns with seven interceptions and also rushed for 1,149 yards and 15 touchdowns.[5] Horton was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball after batting .375 in five games before the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.[6]
Horton tore theulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow prior to the start of his freshman season (2021), requiring him to undergoTommy John surgery andredshirt the year.[7] He then began his redshirt freshman season playing third base and occasionally pitching in relief while he was still recovering from his elbow surgery.[8] Horton was later moved to the Sooners' starting rotation.[9] He reached the 2022 Men's College World Series with the Sooners, where he started in two games. In the MCWS Finals game versus Ole Miss he registered a career high 13 strikeouts in 7.1 innings.[10]
Horton was selected in the first round with the seventh overall selection by theChicago Cubs of the2022 Major League Baseball draft.[11] He signed with the team for $4.45 million.[12]
Horton made his professional debut in 2023, splitting the season between the Single-AMyrtle Beach Pelicans, High-ASouth Bend Cubs, and Double-ATennessee Smokies. In 21 starts for the three affiliates, he posted a cumulative 4-4 record and 2.65 ERA with 117 strikeouts across88+1⁄3 innings pitched.[13]
Horton split the 2024 season between Tennessee and the Triple-AIowa Cubs, accumulating a 2-1 record and 4.46 ERA with 40 strikeouts over nine starts; a significant shoulder injury limited his availability during the year.[14] Horton started the 2025 season at Triple-A Iowa as the top pitching prospect on the team. He went 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA in six starts.[15]
On May 10, 2025, Horton was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[16] Horton made his MLB debut that day against theNew York Mets, pitching four innings in relief. He allowed three runs on four hits while striking out five batters, earning his first career win.[17]
Cade is the middle of five children. On December 4, 2024, he married Blaire Davis in the Dominican Republic.[citation needed]