The Chicago Cubs’ hopes of winning the National League Central have taken a massive blow just two weeks into the regular season.
Starting pitcher Cade Horton, who finished 2025 as the National League Rookie of the Year runner-up, is set to miss the entire season as he will undergo elbow surgery, Craig Counsell announced on Tuesday.
#Cubs Cade Horton will have surgery on his UCL and miss the rest of the season.
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) April 7, 2026
Horton was removed from his latest start against the Cleveland Guardians in the second inning due to right forearm discomfort.
Horton was quickly placed on the Injured List, and a report on Tuesday said the Cubs pitcher would see a specialist after the initial MRI was “not good.”
**Breaking News** Per @JesseRogersESPN on Kap and JHood on @Espn1000 Cubs star Cade Horton will visit Dr. Keith Meister in Texas today after his MRI was not clean and not good. Trending down a bad path.
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) April 7, 2026
The Cubs entered the season with high hopes despite Kyle Tucker leaving in free agency. Chicago did sign Alex Bregman this offseason, which helped offset the departure of Tucker.
Horton, who turns 25 years old in August, went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 23 regular-season games last season, but he lost the NL Rookie of the Year award to Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin.
Horton had a 2.45 ERA in 7.1 innings in 2026, but this is a devastating blow to the Cubs.
