Cubs Pitcher Cade Horton Out for Season After Elbow Surgery

Horton, a top prospect, will miss the rest of the 2026 season due to the injury.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented motion of a baseball pitcher, with sharp planes of navy, green, and orange colors representing the breakdown of Cade Horton's throwing mechanics due to his season-ending elbow surgery.Horton's season-ending elbow injury leaves a fractured hole in the Cubs' starting rotation.Chicago Today

Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton, who was the runner-up for last year's NL Rookie of the Year award, will undergo season-ending elbow surgery after leaving his start on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians with a sudden drop in velocity.

Why it matters

Horton was one of the Cubs' most important young starters, with frontline potential, and his absence is a significant blow to the team's pitching rotation as they try to compete in the NL Central.

The details

Horton, 24, was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He had Tommy John surgery as a freshman at Oklahoma in 2021 and also missed the playoffs last season with a fractured rib. In his 2026 debut last week, Horton held the Washington Nationals to two runs in 6 1/3 innings.

  • Horton was placed on the injured list on Sunday, April 6, 2026.
  • Horton left his start against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, April 4, 2026 in the second inning due to the injury.

The players

Cade Horton

A 24-year-old pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who was the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2025 and was expected to be a key part of the Cubs' rotation in 2026 before suffering a season-ending elbow injury.

Craig Counsell

The manager of the Chicago Cubs.

Riley Martin

A 28-year-old left-handed pitcher who was called up by the Cubs on Sunday to take Horton's roster spot.

Matthew Boyd

A Cubs starting pitcher who was placed on the injured list on Monday with a biceps strain, but is expected to return in the coming weeks.

Justin Steele

A Cubs starting pitcher who missed most of last season after undergoing surgery to repair the flexor tendon and UCL in his left elbow, and is expected to return in the coming weeks.

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What’s next

The Cubs will need to rely more heavily on their rotation depth, with Steele and Boyd expected to return from injuries in the coming weeks, as they try to overcome the loss of Horton for the remainder of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Horton's season-ending elbow injury is a significant setback for the Cubs, who were counting on the young pitcher to be a key part of their rotation this year. The team's depth will be tested as they try to remain competitive in the NL Central without one of their top starters.