Top Chicago Cubs pitching prospect made a memorable Major League debut, playing a key role in a hard-fought 6-5 road win over the New York Mets.
With ace Shota Imanaga sidelined due to injury, speculation swirled among fans that Horton would get the starting nod at Citi Field. While he didn’t start, the Cubs did call him up to pitch in relief on a national stage against a red-hot Mets squad.
Following a smooth opening inning by Brad Keller, Horton took the mound and wasted no time making an impression—striking out Brandon Nimmo, the first batter he faced, to begin his big-league career with authority.
The one blemish for Cade Horton
It was mostly smooth sailing for Cade Horton in his big league debut. The former No. 7 overall pick looked composed as he navigated a dangerous Mets lineup, breezing through his first two innings on the mound. His only stumble came in the fourth, when he surrendered back-to-back hits to Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos before Brett Baty launched a three-run homer to right field.
Despite that one tough moment, the 23-year-old wrapped up a solid debut, finishing with four innings pitched, five strikeouts, and three earned runs—all coming from that single swing. While the box score may not fully reflect it, Horton’s poise and command were evident throughout his outing.
After the game, Horton spoke with Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and offered a composed, confident perspective on his performance.
“It’s a really cool opportunity,” Horton said. “Just slow the game down and take it one pitch at a time…. I just tried to settle in as best as I could and just focus on the target, make my pitches when I needed to… I feel like I did a pretty good job of that.”
Great response to a unique circumstance
Starting his outing in the second inning won’t be a typical routine for Cade Horton moving forward, but the unorthodox debut worked in his favor. It gave the young flamethrower a chance to settle in without immediately facing the Mets’ daunting trio of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso. That early confidence boost allowed Horton to find his rhythm and shake off any debut nerves.
More important than the final line was Horton’s mentality—his calm presence on the mound and how his arsenal translated against high-caliber Major League hitters. Despite the one mistake to Brett Baty, Horton showcased the kind of poise and pitch effectiveness that bodes well for his future.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell echoed that sentiment when speaking to Marquee Sports Network after the game.
“I thought he did a nice job,” Counsell said. “He learned that his stuff definitely works here, plays here.”
The Oklahoma City native left the game after five strong innings with the Cubs holding a 4-3 lead. In the eighth, catcher Miguel Amaya provided a cushion, delivering a two-run single through the left side to extend Chicago’s lead to 6-3.
But the Mets weren’t done yet. Brett Baty, who had already taken Cade Horton deep earlier, launched his second home run of the night—this time an opposite-field shot that trimmed the deficit to just one.
Still, Chicago held firm. Reliever Porter Hodge came on in the bottom of the ninth and calmly shut the door, preserving the 6-5 victory and snapping a recent losing skid for the Cubs.