Chicago Cubs’ Cade Horton to have season-ending surgery
Chicago Tribune • • sports
Key Points:
- Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton will undergo season-ending surgery for a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), marking the second consecutive year the team loses a top starter to injury in April.
- Horton, 24, had a strong 2025 season with a 2.67 ERA but has now faced multiple arm surgeries, including Tommy John surgery in 2021, and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
- The Cubs will promote veteran Colin Rea to fill Horton’s rotation spot and continue to rely on internal options rather than pursuing major external acquisitions at this early stage of the season.
- General manager Carter Hawkins emphasized resilience and learning from injuries to improve player health while maintaining optimism about the team’s potential for a successful season despite setbacks.
- Left-hander Justin Steele, also recovering from elbow surgery, is expected to return by late May or early June, potentially providing additional rotation depth later in the season.
