Cade Horton To Undergo Season-Ending UCL Surgery

Key Points:

• Cubs pitcher Cade Horton will undergo elbow surgery for a torn ulnar collateral ligament and miss the remainder of the 2026 season; the exact type of surgery (Tommy John or alternative) will be determined during the procedure.
• Horton was placed on the injured list after experiencing forearm discomfort during a recent start, ending what had been a promising season following a strong 2025 campaign where he posted a 2.67 ERA over 118 innings.
• Horton, who finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025, will continue to accrue service time while on the injured list and is expected to turn 25 in August.
• The Cubs face rotation challenges with Horton out, recently losing Matthew Boyd to a bicep strain, and relying on a limited group including Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and recently recalled Javier Assad.
• Prospects like Jaxon Wiggins show potential but have command issues, while other experienced pitchers like Kyle Wright and Vince Velasquez remain minor league depth options with recent injury histories.