Chicago may be ‘the place quarterbacks go to die,' but Cubs pitcher Cade Horton is thriving

New York Times

2 days ago

Cade Horton did not cross paths with Caleb Williams at the University of Oklahoma, where the future Chicago Cubs pitcher was once recruited by the football program and as a two-way baseball player. Horton, though, did hear the recent buzz about Da Bears, how Williams' father is quoted in a forthcoming book saying, 'Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die.'
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Sitting at his Wrigley Field locker the other day, Horton laughed and understood the reference. Williams starred for the Sooners in 2021, the same year that Horton underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire baseball season. Williams then transferred to USC and won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, months after Horton led Oklahoma to the championship round of the College World Series, emerging as the No. 7 pick in the Major League Baseball Draft.
How about Chicago for a pitching prospect? 'It is a really good environment,' Horton said. Indeed, the Cubs have made so much progress in several areas that the point is no longer up for debate.
Before and after Horton made his major-league debut in New York last month, established pitchers such as Jameson Taillon and Justin Steele sent him text messages offering encouragement and support. Once acclimated, Horton observed how players follow their routines and listened to teammates share perspectives from their introductions to The Show.
Cubs players enjoy talking ball and studying the little details within the game. This is not a clubhouse of 26 guys, 26 Ubers, to paraphrase Peter Gammons. The atmosphere is conducive to playing without the fear of making mistakes.
Just throw strikes and Gold Glove defenders will run all over the field to make plays. When MVP candidates are stacked in the everyday lineup, giving up a couple of runs in the early innings isn't crushing. By early June, the Cubs had already notched 17 comeback victories and 12 wins that saw the offense score double-digit runs.
'If you're a young starter,' Taillon said, 'it does feel like a great spot.'
Cubs manager Craig Counsell developed a strong reputation for handling young pitchers with the Milwaukee Brewers, taking a careful, open-minded approach that helped Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader land huge contracts as free agents. Tommy Hottovy, the longtime Cubs pitching coach, was a key behind-the-scenes coordinator for the 2016 World Series team. Hottovy later became an important figure in the merger of the organization's major- and minor-league pitching groups into a more unified program.
The Cubs are 5-0 in Horton's five outings since he was promoted from Triple-A Iowa to replace All-Star pitcher Shota Imanaga, who remains on the injured list with a strained left hamstring. In order to keep playing into October, maintaining enough pitching depth is essential.
Cade Horton has appeared in 5 games this season. The Cubs have won all of them.
✅NYM✅CWS✅MIA✅COL✅WSH pic.twitter.com/8Ckf2hksOF
— Chief Cub (@ChiefCub) June 4, 2025
While president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer would always be reluctant to give up the organization's highest-drafted pitcher in a generation, trading Horton ahead of the July 31 deadline becomes virtually impossible when he's a fully functional part of a first-place team.
Counsell, a straight shooter who does not speak in hyperbole, gave Horton one of his highest compliments, describing the traits of a 'clear-headed competitor' who can put maximum focus on the moment, and then honestly assess each performance, separating the good from the bad.
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'He wants to be great,' Counsell said. 'Despite being this highly thought of prospect, he went through some big adversity last year. And I think that's a good thing. Growth comes from those places. But he's still new at this job — being a professional baseball player. You have to realize that and acknowledge that. In the long run, that's a good thing for us. There's a lot of room for growth left here.'
That will come through repetition. Horton already has a solid foundation of athleticism and ability, but last year was largely a wasted season. The pain and discomfort he felt around his right shoulder due to a subscapularis muscle strain limited him to only 34 1/3 innings in the minors last season. The Cubs, however, are not putting a hard cap on his innings this year, believing that they can use data and insights from different departments to make collaborative decisions as the season unfolds.
So far, Horton has covered 25 2/3 innings for the Cubs, posting three wins, a 4.21 ERA and only five walks against 108 major-league batters. It is a small sample, but it is also impressive given the gaps in his experience. The Cubs can afford to be patient.
'It's all about just slowing the game down and taking it one pitch at a time,' Horton said. 'It's just like anything else you do. The more you do it, the more comfortable you're going to feel. It comes from the preparation I put in. My bullpens, my routine, that's what gives me confidence to go out there and pitch.'
Unless a 'Hard Knocks' camera crew gets access to the building, those types of moments are difficult to capture and appreciate. Ultimately, the Cubs, Bears and every other professional franchise will be judged by their record. But perception often matters, and players can tell when things are headed in the right direction.
'There's a winning culture,' Horton said. 'Everybody in here is pulling for each other. It's a special group.'