Cade Horton will need elbow surgery after Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed that the right-hander has damage in the ulnar collateral ligament of his throwing elbow. The injury will end Horton’s season and create another major blow for a Cubs rotation that has already been hit hard by injuries.
Counsell said the club has not yet set a surgery date and did not identify the exact procedure. Horton left his start in Cleveland on Friday in the second inning because of discomfort in his right forearm, then went on the 15-day injured list on Sunday.
What the Cubs know about Horton’s injury
Horton, 24, emerged as one of Chicago’s best stories last season. He finished 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA across 23 appearances, including 22 starts, and placed second in National League Rookie of the Year voting behind Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin.
This season started well for Horton, who allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings against Washington on March 28. His second start ended quickly, though, as his velocity dropped noticeably after the first inning and he was removed after just 17 pitches.
Why the injury matters for Chicago
The Cubs entered the year expecting Horton to handle a key role at the top of the staff. Losing him removes one of the few young arms the team had built around and increases pressure on the rest of the rotation to stay healthy.
The timing also stings because Chicago’s pitching depth has already been tested early. Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd is on the injured list with a left biceps strain, while left-hander Justin Steele is still recovering from elbow surgery and is aiming to return in the first half of the season.
Current rotation picture
With Horton and Boyd unavailable, the Cubs are set to lean on Javier Assad and Colin Rea near the back of the rotation. That leaves little margin for error as the club tries to stay competitive through another stretch defined by injury management.
- Matthew Boyd — on the injured list with a left biceps strain
- Justin Steele — recovering from elbow surgery
- Cade Horton — out for the season after elbow surgery is required
- Javier Assad — expected to help fill a rotation spot
- Colin Rea — expected to help fill a rotation spot
Horton’s absence forces Chicago to adjust again after a promising start to the season was cut short. The next steps will depend on the final surgical plan, but the immediate outlook is clear: the Cubs will move forward without one of their most important young starters and will have to cover innings with a rotation already under strain.
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