Cade Horton
Cade Michael Horton is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. Horton played college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners and was selected by the Cubs in the first round with the seventh overall selection in the 2022 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2025.
Early life
Horton was born August 20, 2001, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was raised in Norman, Oklahoma, by his parents Mike and Cari. He followed his older brother Cale into baseball but took up American football as well. Horton attended Norman High School, where he played baseball and football. Horton committed to play college baseball at Oklahoma and to join the school's football team as a walk-on. 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. 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.College career
Horton tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow prior to the start of his freshman season, requiring him to undergo Tommy John surgery and redshirt the year. He then began his redshirt freshman season playing third base and occasionally pitching in relief while he was still recovering from his elbow surgery. Horton was later moved to the Sooners' starting rotation. 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.Professional career
Minor leagues (2022–2025)
Horton was selected in the first round with the seventh overall selection by the Chicago Cubs of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the team for $4.45 million.Horton made his professional debut in 2023, splitting the season between the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, High-A South Bend Cubs, and Double-A Tennessee Smokies. In 21 starts for the three affiliates, he posted a cumulative 4-4 record and 2.65 ERA with 117 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Horton split the 2024 season between Tennessee and the Triple-A Iowa 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. 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.