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52 articles
CHC • Pitcher • #22
24 days ago
It’s merely a procedural move after Horton underwent a full Tommy John reconstructive surgery earlier this week. The 24-year-old former top pitching prospect, who previously underwent Tommy John surgery during his collegiate career, is facing a roughly 15–16 month rehabilitation timeline, putting his potential return in the second half of next season.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
25 days ago
In other words, the next time we’ll see Horton on an MLB field is likely either at the end of the 2027 season or the start of 2028. It’s a devastating blow for the Cubs, who haven’t gotten much good out of replacements Colin Rea and Javier Assad so far. They may be a team watching the trade market as we get closer to the middle of the summer for rotation reinforcements.
Source: Jesse Rogers
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 1 month ago
It’s a devastating development for the Cubs, and fantasy managers, after Horton blossomed into an upper-echelon fantasy contributor during the second half of last season and looked like a rotation mainstay for years to come. The 24-year-old former top pitching prospect hit the injured list over the weekend with a forearm strain after leaving his second start of the season after just 17 pitches. It’s unclear whether he’ll undergo a full Tommy John reconstruction or a less invasive internal brace procedure, which would expedite his return to the majors. It’ll be Colin Rea and Javier Assad tasked with picking up the slack in Chicago’s rotation moving forward.
Source: Brian Murphy
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 1 month ago
Horton will visit with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas today to get a second opinion on the MRI results, but this is not trending in a great direction for the Cubs and fantasy managers. We’ll wait to hear more information, but it’s starting to feel like the 24-year-old may be headed for surgery and an extended absence.
Source: David Kaplan
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 1 month ago
The 24-year-old right-hander suffered the unfortunate injury during Friday’s start against the Guardians. The Cubs have yet to give an official timeline for how long they expect him to be sidelined for, so there’s still hope that he’s not looking at a season-ending type of injury. The expectation is that Colin Rea will get the first shot at replacing him in the Cubs’ rotation.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 1 month ago
Horton said after the game that the discomfort that caused him to leave his start against the Guardians in the second inning began in his wrist before he developed tightness in his forearm. That doesn’t really sound like a UCL problem, but we’ll see. The Cubs are certainly going to play things safe regardless. Colin Rea, who allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings after taking over for Horton today, is likely to step into the rotation.
Source: Sahadev Sharma
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 1 month ago
That was not what we wanted to hear. Horton was removed after signaling to the dugout following his 17th pitch of the game against the Guardians. The Cubs won’t want to take chances with their 24-year-old, so he’ll probably go on the IL even if they get good news from here. Colin Rea could replace him in the rotation, with Javier Assad perhaps being called up to pitch in middle relief.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 1 month ago
Horton, who pitched a scoreless first, appeared uncomfortable after throwing a 93.8 mph fastball, his slowest of the game. It wasn’t obvious what exactly was wrong, but we’ll find out soon enough. Colin Rea replaced him against the Guardians and would be the favorite to join the rotation if Horton lands on the IL.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 1 month ago
Horton gave up a homer to James Wood, but the other three hits he allowed were singles and he walked none. This was basically Horton’s average outing from his rookie campaign, when allowed two runs or fewer in 16 of his 23 starts. This goes as a 2.84 ERA, a near match from his 2.67 mark last year. He had four strikeouts today and 4.2 per start last year. One assumes the lack of a top-notch strikeout rate will cost him some this year, but he’ll probably still get better there, even as his ERA climbs a bit. He’ll make his next start Friday in Cleveland.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 2 months ago
Horton is ending the spring on the right note. He followed a 10-strikeout performance Monday with this gem where he allowed just four hits and struck out three against zero walks. The 24-year-old doesn’t project as a fantasy ace, but it’s worth remembering that he was excellent in his rookie campaign in 2025, and a step up in 2026 is well within reach.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
about 2 months ago
Horton got 21 whiffs on 47 swings, leading to an exceptional 47% CSW. He had struck out four and given up three homers in 5 2/3 innings in his first two outings this spring, but he showed his potential tonight. He makes plenty of sense as a fourth or fifth starter in mixed leagues.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
2 months ago
Horton gave up three consecutive hits, including a three-run homer to Corey Seager, to open the contest. He gave up two additional homers before exiting the contest after 60 pitches (37 strikes). The results don’t really matter this early in the year, especially since his fastball velocity was right in line with last year’s numbers when he put together one of the best second-half performances of any pitcher in baseball. The 24-year-old former top prospect remains a back-end SP3 for fantasy managers heading into the regular season.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
2 months ago
Horton’s 26 fastballs today averaged 95.9 mph, ever so slightly up from his 2025 average of 95.7 mph. He has nothing to worry about in regard to his rotation spot, but he’s opened the spring with five scoreless innings and five strikeouts anyway.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
3 months ago
Horton came in after Jameson Taillon allowed three runs and exited before Caleb Thielbar gave up five runs, making his day look a little more impressive. He struck out two and walked one while throwing 26 pitches.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
6 months ago
Horton enters as the heavy favorite after emerging as one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers in the second half, posting a dazzling 1.03 ERA across 61 1/3 innings over 12 starts. Baldwin would be a worthy choice in most years after cementing himself as Atlanta’s catcher of both the present and future during an impressive full-season debut, slugging 19 homers across 124 games. Durbin’s inclusion comes as a mild surprise over unheralded Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile, who posted an .845 OPS with 35 extra-base hits over 91 contests. Nationals center fielder Dylan Crews and Dodgers starer-turned-postseason closer Roki Sasaki entered the year as preseason favorites, but both missed most of the campaign due to injury. The winner will be announced on Monday, November 10.
Source: MLB
CHC • Pitcher • #22
7 months ago
Good to know. Horton was trying to make it back from a rib fracture suffered during his Sept. 23 start. The Rookie of the Year candidate might have been a difference maker in the NLDS against the Brewers. He’s a certainty for the Cubs’ 2026 rotation, which also figures to include Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga (assuming that his option is picked up) and, eventually, Justin Steele.
Source: Jordan Basitian
CHC • Pitcher • #22
7 months ago
Horton got through yesterday’s session without pain in the area of his fractured rib, so now it’s just about getting him built back up. He hopes to pitch in the NLCS if the Cubs can advance.
Source: Maddie Lee
CHC • Pitcher • #22
7 months ago
Horton got through yesterday’s session without pain in the area of his fractured rib, so now it’s just about getting him built back up. He hopes to pitch in the NLCS if the Cubs can advance.
Source: Maddie Lee
CHC • Pitcher • #22
7 months ago
Horton is aiming to be ready for a potential NLCS matchup, if Chicago manages to rally against the division-rival Brewers. The 24-year-old rookie standout has been on the shelf since suffering a right rib fracture during his final regular-season start.
Source: Bruce Levine
CHC • Pitcher • #22
7 months ago
Horton would provide a substantial lift to Chicago’s rotation, if they managed to rally and advance past the division-rival Brewers into the NLCS. The 24-year-old rookie sensation suffered a right rib fracture during his final regular-season start and has been shut down ever since. It sounds like there’s a chance he’ll be able to contribute later this postseason, if the Cubs stay alive.
Source: Patrick Mooney
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
It’s a stunning turn of events, as Horton will now miss the entire Wild Card round and won’t be eligible to return until the late stages of a potential Division Series matchup. The 24-year-old rookie sensation posted a dazzling 1.03 ERA across 61 1/3 innings over 12 second-half starts, and his absence leaves a massive hole in Chicago’s postseason rotation. A clearer return timeline should emerge in the coming days.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
Counsell told reporters Friday that they’re comfortable moving forward with Horton into the postseason after an MRI earlier this week didn’t reveal any structural damage. The 24-year-old rookie sensation has been diagnosed with rib tightness and is expected to be ready to pitch at some point next week when the playoffs get underway. He resumed throwing on Friday and should be cleared for a postseason start following this weekend’s throwing session.
Source: Jesse Rogers
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
Counsell noted that Horton’s MRI did show some “areas of concern”, but nothing severe enough that it would lead to an extended absence. It sounds like the Cubs are optimistic about their prized rookie right-hander’s availability for the start of the postseason.
Source: Josh Frydman
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
Horton, who has been dealing with an illness recently, was lifted for precautionary reasons from Tuesday’s outing after just 29 pitches when his back started tightening up on him. The 24-year-old rookie sensation, who has put together a phenomenal second half, will undergo additional imaging to rule out any structural damage. The hope for the Cubs is that he’ll be cleared for the start of the postseason.
Source: 670 The Score
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
Counsell told reporters Horton has also been dealing with an illness the past few days after the rookie standout was lifted for precautionary reasons from Tuesday’s outing after just 29 pitches when his back started tightening up. The 24-year-old former top prospect, who has put together a phenomenal second half with a microscopic 1.03 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break, will undergo additional imaging to rule out any structural damage. The hope for the Cubs is that he’ll be cleared for the start of the postseason.
Source: 670 The Score
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
Horton allowed one run before leaving with a five-run lead that quickly disappeared in his absence. It’d be quite the blow to the Cubs’ chances in October if Horton fails to recover quickly, but it sounds like he’s just day-to-day for now. Assuming he doesn’t pitch again during the regular season — and he probably wasn’t going to start Sunday regardless — he ends his rookie season 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 118 innings.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
Horton’s remarkable second half continued in this one as he outdueled Pirates ace Paul Skenes, limiting Pittsburgh’s offense to just four baserunners over five strong frames to pick up his 11th win of the season. The 24-year-old top pitching prospect has recorded a stellar 0.93 ERA across 58 1/3 innings over 11 starts since the All-Star break. He’ll square off against the division-rival Reds in a road tilt on Sunday to close out a two-start week.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
The 24-year-old right-hander scattered four hits on the evening and didn’t walk a batter while striking out two. The only blemish on his night came on an RBI single off the bat of Jurickson Profar in the third inning. Horton got only three whiffs on 87 pitches on the evening, posting an underwhelming CSW of 22 percent. He’s now 10-4 on the season with an impressive 2.70 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and an 89/32 K/BBB ratio over 110 innings through his first 21 appearances (20 starts) on the season. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling as squares off against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Monday.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
8 months ago
Horton was as close to perfect as a pitcher could be here. He walked Matt Olson with one out in the first inning and retired every other hitter he faced over his five innings of work. It was a bit frustrating to see him pulled with just 75 pitches when in such a groove, but the Cubs are clearly trying to limit his workload and likely didn’t want to let him see Ronald Acuña Jr. and the top of the order for a third time. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any start since July 9th – the last time he threw at least 90 pitches – and has an incredible 0.77 ERA since the All-Star break. He’s scheduled for a rematch with the Braves next time out.
CHC • Pitcher • #22
9 months ago
Horton wasn’t great, but considering the park he pitched in and considering how much he’s due for regression — hard to post a 0.49 ERA after the All-Star break like he had coming into the game — it’s something fantasy managers will take. The 24-year-old rookie has nine wins in 2025 with an ERA of 2.92. Is this the Rookie of the Year favorite now? Enquiring minds want to know. He’ll have a chance to build his case Wednesday versus Atlanta.