Cubs Pitcher Cade Horton Exits Start Early with Forearm Discomfort

Marquee Sports Network reported the young righty had tears in his eyes as he left the game.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:03pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes in muted earth tones, conveying the physical and emotional toll of an early exit due to injury.A cubist interpretation of a pitcher's delivery captures the raw physicality and emotional strain of an early exit due to injury.Chicago Today

Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton was forced to exit his start on Friday in the second inning due to right forearm discomfort. Marquee Sports Network reporter Taylor McGregor noted that Horton had tears in his eyes as he left the field, raising concerns about the severity of the injury. Forearm issues are often a precursor to more serious elbow problems, and Horton has previously undergone Tommy John surgery.

Why it matters

The Cubs were counting on Horton to be their ace this season, so an extended absence would be a major blow to their pitching rotation. The team has already dealt with injuries to their pitching staff, including Justin Steele going down last year, so they will need to find a way to weather this storm if Horton's injury proves serious.

The details

Horton left the game after calling for the team trainer following a fastball that was about two ticks below his season average velocity. The Cubs are calling it right forearm discomfort, but the emotional reaction and Horton's prior Tommy John surgery history raise concerns that this could be a more significant elbow issue.

  • Horton exited the game in the second inning on April 3, 2026.

The players

Cade Horton

A young right-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who was expected to be their ace this season.

Nick Frangella

The Cubs' team trainer who attended to Horton after he called for medical attention.

Taylor McGregor

A reporter for Marquee Sports Network who was covering the Cubs game and noted Horton's emotional reaction as he left the field.

Justin Steele

A Cubs pitcher who missed time last season due to an elbow injury.

Edward Cabrera

A Cubs pitcher who has looked good in his early starts this season.

Matthew Boyd

A Cubs pitcher who has recorded 20 whiffs in each of his first two starts this season.

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What they’re saying

“Cade Horton had tears in his eyes as he headed to the clubhouse.”

— Taylor McGregor, Reporter, Marquee Sports Network

What’s next

The Cubs will wait for further medical evaluation to determine the severity of Horton's forearm injury and whether it is related to his previous Tommy John surgery. If the injury proves serious, the team will need to rely on their pitching depth to fill the void in the rotation.

The takeaway

This injury to Cade Horton is a significant setback for the Cubs, who were counting on him to anchor their pitching staff this season. The emotional reaction and Horton's injury history raise concerns about a potential long-term issue, which would force the team to lean on their pitching depth and test their ability to weather adversity early in the year.