by Team Del Genio
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025Cade Horton’s time to shine at the major league level may have already arrived.
Going into his start on July 26th, he had twelve appearances, which included eleven starts. The rookie right-hander has a 3-3 record with a 4.04 era and a 1.36 whip. The batting average for the balls put into play against him was a bit high at .305 in 62 1/3 innings. The MLB babip average is .289, and his babip in triple-a to begin the year was .198 in 29 innings.
Horton should be striking out more batters. In the minor leagues in each of the last two seasons, he averaged over 10 strikeouts per nine innings. At the MLB level this year, he is only averaging 6.79 strikeouts per nine innings. His whiff rate of 29.2% ranks in the highest 77th percentile in MLB. His chase rate of 29.8% ranks in the highest 68th percentile.
In his final start in July against on the road against the White Sox, Horton pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and scattered four base hits in the victory. He completed the month with a 1.52 era and a 1.06 whip in four starts. What is particularly interesting is that he blanked three of those four opponents.
Horton began the year in triple-a where he posts a 2-1 record along with a 2-1 record, a 1.24 era and a 0.86 whip. He was originally drafted in the first round by the Cubs with their seventh pick. His 2024 season was underwhelming in a year cut short by a shoulder injury. He posted a 2-1 record with a 4.46 era and a 1.25 whip in 16 innings at double-a and another 18 1/3 innings at triple-a. In 2023, he had 4-4 record with a 2.65 era and a 1.00 whip in a-ball, high-a ball, and double-a over 21 starts in 88 1/3 innings. His 117 strikeouts over that span demonstrating his potential to punch more batters out than he is now.
His arsenal is limited. He primarily relies on his fastball and his sweeper, which he throws over 70% of the time. His remaining pitches feature a curveball and change-up that he throws just under 25% of the time.
Looking underneath the hood, Horton’s numbers are intriguing. His four-seam fastball clocks in a 95.6 miles per hour, ranking in the highest 71st percentile. He is only striking out 17.3% of opposing hitters, ranking in the lowest 16th percentile. However, his stuff is getting opposing batters to miss. His whiff rate of 28.0% ranks in the 71st percentile. His chase rate of 30.1% ranks in the top 72nd percentile. Horton is inducing ground balls in 47.4% of the batted balls against him, ranking in the highest 74th percentile.
Horton begins August with a 4-3 record with a 3.67 era and a 1.31 whip in twelve starts. Chicago has won eight of those twelve games. Pitching scoreless innings against the White Sox, the Red Sox at Wrigley Field, and Cleveland last month needs to be taken with a grain of salt since those are not menacing opponents in those circumstances Yet Horton is demonstrating some intriguing skills that explain why he was the seventh player drafted in the 2022 MLB draft. Let’s keep an eye on him.
Good luck- TDG.
Going into his start on July 26th, he had twelve appearances, which included eleven starts. The rookie right-hander has a 3-3 record with a 4.04 era and a 1.36 whip. The batting average for the balls put into play against him was a bit high at .305 in 62 1/3 innings. The MLB babip average is .289, and his babip in triple-a to begin the year was .198 in 29 innings.
Horton should be striking out more batters. In the minor leagues in each of the last two seasons, he averaged over 10 strikeouts per nine innings. At the MLB level this year, he is only averaging 6.79 strikeouts per nine innings. His whiff rate of 29.2% ranks in the highest 77th percentile in MLB. His chase rate of 29.8% ranks in the highest 68th percentile.
In his final start in July against on the road against the White Sox, Horton pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and scattered four base hits in the victory. He completed the month with a 1.52 era and a 1.06 whip in four starts. What is particularly interesting is that he blanked three of those four opponents.
Horton began the year in triple-a where he posts a 2-1 record along with a 2-1 record, a 1.24 era and a 0.86 whip. He was originally drafted in the first round by the Cubs with their seventh pick. His 2024 season was underwhelming in a year cut short by a shoulder injury. He posted a 2-1 record with a 4.46 era and a 1.25 whip in 16 innings at double-a and another 18 1/3 innings at triple-a. In 2023, he had 4-4 record with a 2.65 era and a 1.00 whip in a-ball, high-a ball, and double-a over 21 starts in 88 1/3 innings. His 117 strikeouts over that span demonstrating his potential to punch more batters out than he is now.
His arsenal is limited. He primarily relies on his fastball and his sweeper, which he throws over 70% of the time. His remaining pitches feature a curveball and change-up that he throws just under 25% of the time.
Looking underneath the hood, Horton’s numbers are intriguing. His four-seam fastball clocks in a 95.6 miles per hour, ranking in the highest 71st percentile. He is only striking out 17.3% of opposing hitters, ranking in the lowest 16th percentile. However, his stuff is getting opposing batters to miss. His whiff rate of 28.0% ranks in the 71st percentile. His chase rate of 30.1% ranks in the top 72nd percentile. Horton is inducing ground balls in 47.4% of the batted balls against him, ranking in the highest 74th percentile.
Horton begins August with a 4-3 record with a 3.67 era and a 1.31 whip in twelve starts. Chicago has won eight of those twelve games. Pitching scoreless innings against the White Sox, the Red Sox at Wrigley Field, and Cleveland last month needs to be taken with a grain of salt since those are not menacing opponents in those circumstances Yet Horton is demonstrating some intriguing skills that explain why he was the seventh player drafted in the 2022 MLB draft. Let’s keep an eye on him.
Good luck- TDG.
