NEW YORK — Cade Horton’s second encounter with New York City’s infamous traffic on Saturday was far smoother than his first. Despite a lengthy 90-minute bus ride to the stadium, Horton powered through adversity on the field to clinch a win in his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs against the New York Mets.
Horton, the top pitching prospect for the Cubs, was promoted from Triple-A Iowa earlier that day. In a noteworthy performance, he struck out five batters over four innings in relief, aiding in the Cubs’ 6-5 victory over the Mets. After Brad Keller delivered a flawless first inning, Horton took over and maintained composure despite allowing three hits, one of which was Brett Baty’s three-run home run in the fourth inning. Remarkably disciplined, Horton allowed no walks and threw 49 of his 77 pitches for strikes in what was his first professional relief appearance.
“Proud of his efforts,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell commented. “Even though the three-run homer was significant, he consistently found the strike zone. He’s learning that his skills translate well on this stage.”
Finding success with his changeup proved pivotal in the fifth inning. Up until that point, Horton had relied solely on fastballs, curveballs, and sweepers. But with slugger Juan Soto at the plate and the game at 4-3, Horton chose to introduce an 86 mph changeup, striking out Soto as Francisco Lindor advanced to second.
“The changeup was a calculated move — surprise is a strong asset,” Horton explained. “Rarely used, it wasn’t on the scouting reports. It was the right moment to shake things up.”
Horton concluded his showing by eliminating four-time All-Star Pete Alonso, who connected with an 82 mph sweeper but sent it directly to third base, resulting in an out.
“This builds my confidence, confirming my skills are effective,” Horton said with assurance. “I’ll continue honing my breaking balls and maintain pitch precision.”
Two innings earlier, Horton demonstrated poise under pressure by retiring Lindor and Soto amidst a tricky two-man-on-base situation in the third inning.
Post-game celebrations included a heartfelt reunion with 18 family members and friends who attended the match at Citi Field. Horton reflected with amusement on the hectic beginning of his day — a prolonged 90-minute commute from the hotel making him anxious.
“City traffic is unforgettable,” Horton chuckled. “Thought I might miss it by being so late.”
Horton’s advancement to the major leagues caps nearly three years since being selected seventh overall by the Cubs in the 2022 amateur draft from the University of Oklahoma. His 2023 minor league season saw him posting a 2.65 ERA across 21 starts, though a lat injury limited his appearances last year. This season at Triple-A, he impressively held a 2-1 record with a dazzling 1.24 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 29 innings in six starts.
Saturday’s performance filled the gap left by rotation regular Shota Imanaga, sidelined by a hamstring strain.
“The journey has been full of fluctuations, and it’s all about staying grounded,” Horton noted. “I plan to live in the moment and take my prospects one day at a time.”