Cubs RHP Cade Horton to undergo elbow surgery, out for season

Field Level Media|published: Tue 7th April, 17:22 2026

Apr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton will undergo surgery for a UCL damage in his right elbow and will be lost for the remainder of the season, manager Craig Counsell revealed Tuesday.

The decision to have surgery came after Horton met with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, two days after landing on the 15-day injured list Sunday with what the team called a forearm strain.

The IL move was retroactive to Saturday for Horton, who exited Friday's start against the host Cleveland Guardians after one-plus inning and 17 pitches.

Horton retired the side in order in the first inning before walking Kyle Manzardo on five pitches to open the second. He left the game with the Cubs' head trainer. The Guardians went on to win 4-1.

"I had some tightness in my wrist and as the game went on, it went into my forearm," he said Friday. "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."

Horton, 24, lowered his ERA to 2.45 on Friday after he yielded two runs in 6 1/3 innings in the Cubs' 10-2 win over the Washington Nationals on March 28.

A first-round pick (seventh overall) by Chicago in 2022, Horton was 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) in 2025 and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting.

--Field Level Media

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