CHICAGO – top prospect is set to make his much-anticipated MLB debut as the Chicago Cubs head to New York for a three-game series against the Mets.
This move comes as the Cubs’ starting rotation faces significant injury setbacks. Justin Steele has been ruled out for the season due to an elbow injury, while Shota Imanaga, another left-handed pitcher, was recently placed on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
Both pitchers were initially expected to be the Cubs’ top two starters this year, leaving manager Craig Counsell and the front office to make adjustments.
While the Cubs have not officially confirmed when he will pitch or whether he’ll start or come out of the bullpen, he is currently with the team in New York. The most likely scenario is that Horton will start Saturday’s game, which was originally scheduled for Imanaga.
Horton, ranked No. 2 in the Cubs’ farm system, No. 1 among their pitching prospects, and No. 46 in MLB Pipeline’s rankings, was selected by the Cubs with the 7th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma.
After a right shoulder injury limited him to 34.1 innings in Triple-A and Double-A last season, Horton is now ready for his big league debut. Fastball On SI columnist Jack Ankony shared his thoughts on Horton’s promotion during a recent episode of The Payoff Pitch Podcast.
“Many people expected him to debut last year, but an injury delayed that,” Ankony said. “But he’s been dominant in Triple-A this year, posting a 1.24 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP in 29 innings.”
Ankony also mentioned that the Cubs will likely be cautious with Horton’s innings, as the team is aiming for a strong finish to the season. “They’d rather have him at his best in August, September, and October than in May and June,” he added.