Cade Michael Horton (born August 20, 2001) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher in theChicago Cubs organization. Horton was selected by the Cubs in the first round with the seventh overall selection in the2022 Major League Baseball draft.
Horton grew up inNorman, Oklahoma, and attendedNorman High School, where he played baseball and football.[1] Horton committed to play college baseball at Oklahoma and to join the school's football team as a walk-on.[2] 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.[3] Horton was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball after batting .375 in five games before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.[4]
Horton tore theulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow prior to the start of his freshman season, requiring him to undergoTommy John surgery andredshirt the year.[5] He began his redshirt freshman season playing third base and occasionally pitching in relief while he was still recovering from his elbow surgery.[6] Horton was later moved to the Sooners' starting rotation.[7] He reached the 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.[8]
