Cubs Urged to Call Cade Horton in Wake of ***** Imanaga Injury

[ASFN Admin]

The Chicago Cubs could once again need to dip into their pitching depth after starting pitcher ***** Imanaga left his latest start with a hamstring strain.

Chicago are already down Justin Steele for the season, and should Imanaga miss time, they will need a reliable fill-in to maintain their current lead in the National League Central.

David Haugh of 670 The Score brought up this potential solution:

Out of necessity, I would bring up Cade Horton... [Horton is] on track to take *****'s spot in the rotation if there is an injury list to go on for *****. I understand all of the concerns about stretching him out and preserving him for the stretch run and all those things.

But if he's going to make a start this week, I think it should be for the Cubs, and not the Iowa Cubs. If ***** Imanaga goes on the injury list, I think Cade Horton's time is now, and you bring him up and you start the clock. And you can always send him back down. The Cubs don't have to have any commitment long term to keeping him in Chicago.

You'd like that to be the case. What a nice problem that would be to have. Cade Horton is too good. What do we do with him? Well, you can conserve his innings and he can help your major league team, especially at a time of need. ***** is your second lefty to go down at the top of the rotation. If this isn't a crisis, if this indeed is where he's headed, I don't know what is. So, break glass in case of emergency. Call up Cade Horton.

With ***** Imanaga ailing, @DavidHaugh believes it's time for the Cubs to promote Cade Horton to the big leagues. pic.twitter.com/CNQ9l6X6vT

— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) May 5, 2025

Horton is the No. 2 prospect in the organization, behind only Matt Shaw, and the top-rated pitcher. The right-hander was the seventh overall selection in the 2022 Draft by Chicago and has built an impressive resumé for Triple-A Iowa.

You must be registered for see images attach

Chicago Cubs pitcher ***** Imanaga (18) walks off the field after being injured against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning at American Family Field.Michael McLoone-Imagn Images


Over six starts and 29 innings, Horton has a 1.24 ERA, 33 strikeouts to 13 walks, and a 0.862 WHIP. The former college quarterback hopeful has also dealt with a fair share of injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2021 and a shoulder strain that limited him to just nine games in Double-A and Triple-A last season.

Horton needs to be monitored, and overly relying on him this early into the campaign could thin the Cubs’ depth during the late-summer dog days. However, he is too talented and provides too much upside for Chicago not to give him an MLB opportunity.

Javier Assad will also receive starts this summer, but a recent oblique setback has delayed his 2025 season debut. Jordan Wicks, a 25-year-old former first-round pick, is another option, but he was unimpressive as a reliever earlier in the year before getting sent down.

Maybe Imanaga will be fine and avoid an injured list trip. But, should that be the case, watch out for Horton to join the Cubs as a starter.

Related: Cubs' Craig Counsell Breaks Silence on ***** Imanaga Injury

Related: Cubs' Craig Counsell Sends Strong Pete Crow-Armstrong Message After Win Over Brewers​

Continue reading...