The Cubs’ potential ace of the future is facing a long injury absence.
Cade Horton, who left his start on Friday in the second inning with forearm discomfort and was placed on the injured list, will undergo season-ending elbow surgery, manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday.
It’s a major blow to a Cubs team hoping to compete for a World Series.
Cubs starter Cade Horton (22) leaves a start against the Guardians with a trainer on April 3, 2026. MLB Photos via Getty Images
The right-hander, 24, had a strong rookie campaign in 2025, going 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 118 innings, finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting; Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won the award.
Horton’s injury is another blow to a Cubs rotation that just saw left-hander Matthew Boyd go on the injured list Monday with a bicep strain and is still missing lefty Justin Steele, who is set to return later this season after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Boyd, 35, earned his first career All-Star nod last season, going 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 179 ⅔ innings.
Javier Assad was called up to start Tuesday’s road game against the Rays.
The Cubs’ other healthy starters are Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon.
Chicago (4-6) entered Tuesday in last place in the NL Central, four games behind the division-leading Brewers.
Their offense has struggled mightily so far, with a team batting average of .199, third-worst in MLB.
While the Cubs lost Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers in free agency, they did sign Alex Bregman, who is just 6-for-40 through the first 10 games with two home runs.
