Cade Horton's Season Takes a Hit: Cubs Starter Headed for Tests After Leaving Game Early
The Chicago Cubs are holding their breath on young starter Cade Horton after he had to leave his second outing of the season in the second inning with a strained forearm. The team placed him on the 15-day injured list Sunday, just two days after he felt discomfort throwing a pitch during Friday's game against Cleveland.
What Happened on the Mound
Horton was visibly uncomfortable in the second inning when he threw a 93.8 mph fastball to Bo Naylor, slower than his normal velocity. He looked toward the dugout for help and was pulled immediately in favor of right-hander Colin Rea. After the game, the 24-year-old explained what went down: "I had some tightness in my wrist and as the game went on, it went into my forearm. I wanted to err on the cautious side and not hurt anything else. I just wanted to be smart about it and make a smart decision."
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What's Next for the Cubs and Horton
Horton heads back to Chicago for more tests on his right arm, with team doctors on tap for Monday. Manager Craig Counsell said it'll likely be a few days before the team has all the medical opinions in hand. Coming off a solid rookie campaign where he went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA last season, this isn't the start the Cubs were hoping for from their young arm.
To fill the void, the Cubs recalled left-hander Riley Martin from Triple-A Iowa. The 28-year-old is making his first appearance for Chicago after being selected in the sixth round from Quincy University back in 2021. Martin went 6-2 with a 2.69 ERA for Iowa last season and brings a 24-13 record with a 3.76 ERA across 174 minor league appearances. Counsell clearly respects his journey: "Riley is someone over the course of his career who has continued to get better and that puts you on the map." The Cubs also recalled right-hander Ethan Roberts as the 27th man for the doubleheader against the Guardians on Easter.
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