CHICAGO — The Cubs are reportedly calling up top pitching prospect Cade Horton.
According to Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register, Horton is joining the team for the series this weekend against the Mets in New York.
While it’s not official, the Cubs left Saturday open for their probable weekend starting pitchers and Horton will most likely take the ball for the Fox Game of the Week Saturday night.
Jed Hoyer earlier this week said Horton, the Cubs top pitching prospect, was in play to take Shota Imanaga’s spot after he suffered a hamstring strain.
The story surrounding Horton has been innings and workload. He was selected as the 7th overall pick in the 2022 draft a year after having Tommy John to repair a torn UCL.
Hoyer and company have been careful with his innings and number of pitches since. But there’s no denying that the former Oklahoma Sooner, and MLB’s #46 ranked prospect, has been effective in the minors.
Known for an electric fastball and slider, Horton has a 1.24 ERA in Iowa this year with an obscene .129 batting average against.
One thing Hoyer has done better than Epstein is developing pitching and no doubt he will be anxious that the swing he took on draft night three years ago will not only pitch well for a team that needs depth, but stay up for the rest of the season.
The Cubs kick off the series Friday night at 6:10 p.m. Horton will likely make his debut Saturday in Queens at 6:15 p.m.