Cubs Now Have 4 Players in MLB’s Top-100 Prospects List

You know, for all the quality pitching prospects currently in the Cubs minor league system, none of them have been ranked in MLB Pipeline’s top-100 prospects list heading into the 2023 season. Well, that is no longer the case after Wednesday’s updated rankings because 2022 first-round pick Cade Horton is now in the top-100 prospects list.

It turns out that the right-handed starting pitcher must have been 101st on MLB’s list to begin the regular season because once Baltimore Orioles’ Gunner Henderson graduated from his rookie status, Horton jumped into the top-100.

Horton now joins a trio of Cubs outfielders in MLB Pipeline’s top-100.

Cubs Prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top-100
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 27th
Kevin Alcántara: 86th
Brennen Davis: 91st
Cade Horton: 100th

While Horton is the first Cubs pitching prospect to appear in MLB Pipeline’s top-100 this year, he’s not the first Cubs pitcher to make other top-100 rankings. Left-handed starting pitcher Jordan Wicks was ranked 51st by Kiley McDaniel for ESPN’s top prospects list and right-handed starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski came in at 88th in Fangraphs rankings.

What’s been tough for us fans when trying to figure out how good Horton can be is that he still has not made his debut in the minor leagues with the Cubs. He was drafted with the seventh overall pick in 2022 after shooting up draft boards following his dominant performance in the College World Series. However, Horton was returning from Tommy John surgery that he had in Feb. 2021, and was eased back into Oklahoma’s starting rotation, used out of the bullpen and on the field to begin the Sooners’ season.

Horton, 21, isn’t a finished product, but the Cubs see top of the rotation potential once he progresses through their minor league system. Fans will finally get to see Horton’s pro debut this weekend, as Horton is the scheduled starting pitcher on Saturday for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Single-A.

MLB Pipeline senior writer Jim Callis was down in Cubs camp in Arizona back in March and got some video of Horton.

Callis was also on the Marquee Sports Network at the end of March and talked about Horton, who he had ranked as the best college pitcher in the 2022 draft.

It is kind of wild how Horton began the 2022 college season as Oklahoma’s starting third baseman and because he was still coming back from Tommy John surgery, he did not return to the mound until late March. He struggled overall, with his regular season ERA soaring near 8, but his run in the postseason was incredible and scouts obviously love his stuff.

The Cubs signed Horton to a below-slot bonus of $4.45 million, which allowed them to sign left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris in the second round to an over-slot bonus of $3.005 million.

So, definitely looking forward to seeing Horton’s pro debut, which is set to begin at 5:05 p.m. CST on Saturday. If you have MLBTV, then you will be able to access the broadcast through the MLB app.