Scouting Report

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 65 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

One of the top two-way prospects and two-sport talents in the 2020 high school class as a right-hander/shortstop/quarterback, Horton had second-round ability but went unselected because he was all but unsignable. He missed all of his first season at Oklahoma following Tommy John surgery in February 2021 before opening this year as the Sooners' starting third baseman and not taking the mound until March 29. After he finished the regular season with a 7.94 ERA, his stock soared when he logged a 2.61 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 31 innings over five postseason starts as Oklahoma finished second at the College World Series. 

Horton's fastball velocity came back quickly but his life and command didn't, so his heater got hit until the playoffs, when he sat at 94-96 mph and topped out at 98 with improved armside run and carry. His biggest difference-maker was a slider that got much better after he toyed with trying to add a cutter before the Big 12 Conference tournament, giving him a wipeout breaking ball that parks in the mid-80s and reaches 90 mph with two-plane depth. It's an upgrade over his low-80s downer curveball. 

Horton also dabbles with a fading changeup, though it's too firm in the upper 80s and he doesn't land it for strikes. A quality athlete who looked rusty but not out of place at third base for the Sooners, he pounded the zone with his fastball and slider during the postseason. He doesn't come with a long track record of college performance but his ceiling as a No. 2 or 3 starter could land him in the top 40 picks. 

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55 

Though Horton was one of the top two-way prospects and two-sport talents in the 2020 Draft, he went unselected because he wanted to play baseball and football at Oklahoma. He never got any time at quarterback for the Sooners and missed his first baseball season following Tommy John surgery in February 2021, but he came back to dominate in the 2022 postseason and lead Oklahoma to a second-place finish at the College World Series. Signed for a below-slot $4.45 million as the seventh overall pick that July, he won Cubs Minor League pitcher of the year accolades in his 2023 pro debut, reaching Double-A while posting a 2.65 ERA, .191 opponent average and 117/27 K/BB ratio in 88 1/3 innings. 

Horton posted a 7.94 ERA during the 2022 college regular season before toying with a cutter at the Big 12 Conference tournament and discovering a slider that has become a plus-plus weapon that sits in the mid-80s with two-plane depth. He sets it up with a mid-90s fastball that peaks at 98 mph and features bat-missing carry and run. He's working to upgrade a mid-80s changeup with some fade and will use a low-80s downer curveball to give hitters a different look. 

For a pitcher with just 53 2/3 innings of college experience, Horton looked more advanced than expected during his first pro season. The athleticism that allowed him to double as a third baseman for the Sooners also translates into consistent strikes, and he had no difficulty maintaining his stuff and control throughout 2023. Besides improving his changeup, the only other thing he really needs to prove to become a No. 2 starter is that he can handle a full workload. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 65 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

One of the best two-way prospects and two-sport talents in the 2020 high school class, Horton went undrafted because he wanted to play baseball and football at Oklahoma -- where he never got any playing time at quarterback and missed his first baseball season following Tommy John surgery in February 2021. He began last season as the Sooners' starting third baseman, didn't take the mound until late March and ended the regular season with a 7.94 ERA. Then he dominated in the postseason and led the Sooners to a second-place finish at the College World Series before the Cubs drafted him seventh overall and signed him for a below-slot $4.45 million. 

Horton quickly regained the velocity but not the command on his fastball, which got hit hard until the playoffs, during which he operated at 94-96 mph and topped out at 98 with carry and armside run. His slider improved significantly after he toyed with adding a cutter before the Big 12 Conference tournament, becoming a wipeout two-plane breaker that parks in the mid-80s and reaches 90 mph. His upgraded slider is much more effective than his low-80s curveball, which he's still trying to refine. 

Horton is also working on his changeup, which features some fade but is too firm in the upper 80s and doesn't land for strikes often enough. A quality athlete who looked a bit rusty but not overmatched at third base for Oklahoma, he had no trouble pounding the zone with his fastball and slider at the end of the college season. He doesn't have a long track record of performance, though he'll have to prove he can stay healthy and maintain his stuff over a full year of starts.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 65 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Horton was one of the top two-way prospects and two-sport talents in the 2020 prep class, but he went undrafted because he wanted to play baseball and football at Oklahoma. He never got on the field as a quarterback and missed all of his first baseball season following Tommy John surgery in February 2021. He opened 2022 as Oklahoma's starting third baseman and didn't pitch until March 29, finishing the regular season with a 7.94 ERA. But he took off in the postseason, posting a 2.61 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 31 innings as the Sooners finished second at the College World Series, propelling him to the seventh overall pick in the Draft and a below-slot $4.45 million bonus. 

Horton's fastball velocity returned quickly last spring but his life and command didn't, so his heater got pounded until the playoffs, when he worked at 94-96 mph and peaked at 98 with improved armside run and carry. The biggest improvement came with his slider, which got much better after he toyed with trying to add a cutter before the Big 12 Conference tournament, and he now has a wipeout breaking ball that sits in the mid-80s and touches 90 mph with two-plane depth. It's a huge upgrade over his low-80s downer curveball. 

In pro ball, Horton will have to devote more time to his fading changeup, which he throws too hard in the upper 80s and doesn't land regularly for strikes. An outstanding athlete who looked rusty but not out of place at the hot corner for Oklahoma, he pounded the zone with his fastball and slider during the college playoffs. Though he doesn't have a long track record of performance, he was the best pitching prospect in college baseball this year and could become a No. 2 or 3 starter. 

Video scouting report »

Pitching grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Hitting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Oklahoma featured one of the best two-way prep prospects in last year's Draft in Jenks right-hander/shortstop Bryce Osmond, and the state has an even better version for 2020 in Horton. Now at Oklahoma State, Osmond was a second-round talent whose asking price knocked him down to the Nationals in the 35th round. Signability also could be a factor with Horton, who accounted for 4,233 yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior quarterback and has committed to play two sports at Oklahoma.

Scouts prefer Horton on the mound, where his quick arm produces 91-94 mph fastballs that peak at 96. He has an advanced changeup for a high schooler and also owns a solid slider, with both secondary offerings operating around 78-82 mph. He already throws strikes and features little effort in his athletic, three-quarters delivery, and he could have three plus offerings if he focuses solely on pitching.

Though he'll probably get drafted as a pitcher, Horton is a legitimate prospect at shortstop. He's a quality defender with the quickness, hands and arm to remain at the position. His right-handed power potential presently stands out more than his pure hitting ability, and he possesses average speed.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

MiLB Awards All-MiLB Prospect Second Team

Year	Team
2023

Baseball America Minor League All-Star

Year	Team
2023

MID Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
07/02/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/03/2024	Iowa Cubs activated RHP Cade Horton from the 60-day injured list.
	07/24/2024	Iowa Cubs transferred RHP Cade Horton from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	05/31/2024	Iowa Cubs placed RHP Cade Horton on the 7-day injured list.
	05/31/2024	Iowa Cubs placed RHP Cade Horton on the 7-day injured list.
	04/30/2024	RHP Cade Horton assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies.
	03/07/2024	Chicago Cubs Prospects activated RHP Cade Horton.
	09/12/2023	Tennessee Smokies activated RHP Cade Horton.
	08/31/2023	Tennessee Smokies transferred RHP Cade Horton to the Development List.
	08/01/2023	RHP Cade Horton assigned to Tennessee Smokies from South Bend Cubs.
	05/09/2023	RHP Cade Horton assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	04/06/2023	RHP Cade Horton assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from ACL Cubs.
	03/06/2023	RHP Cade Horton assigned to ACL Cubs from Cubs Organization.
	08/16/2022	RHP Cade Horton assigned to Cubs Organization.
	07/23/2022	Chicago Cubs signed RHP Cade Horton.
	02/04/2022	SS Cade Horton assigned to Oklahoma Sooners.
	02/02/2021	RHP Cade Horton assigned to Oklahoma Sooners.
	02/02/2021	RHP Cade Horton assigned to Oklahoma Sooners.