Horton needs elbow surgery that will end his 2026 season

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Cubs’ worst fears for Cade Horton have been realized.

Chicago’s budding ace has damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that will require season-ending surgery, manager Craig Counsell said prior to the team’s game against the Rays on Tuesday.

Counsell didn’t specify the exact procedure Horton would have, how much damage his UCL sustained, or when he would undergo surgery. But all of that is secondary to the top-line takeaway: The Cubs have lost arguably their most talented starting pitcher for the year after just 7 1/3 innings.

“First of all, you feel for Cade,” Counsell said. “These things get thrown in front of you that are big, and processing it on a day like today for Cade is really hard because you just start to look at what's ahead of you. There are a lot of long days of monotonous work ahead of you.”

The 2025 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Horton exited his start on Friday in Cleveland in the second inning due to discomfort in his right forearm and was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday. He was relieved in that game by veteran right-hander Colin Rea, who is expected to start Wednesday’s series finale at Tampa Bay. That would have been Horton’s turn in the rotation.

Horton, 24, was a revelation for the Cubs last season, going 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA over 23 games (22 starts). He earned nine of 30 first-place votes in Rookie of the Year voting, finishing second to Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. Horton looked sharp in his first start this year, allowing two runs over 6 1/3 innings against Washington on March 28, but he lasted just 17 pitches and four batters into his second start, with his fastball velocity dropping noticeably from the first to second inning.

“You're just disappointed,” Counsell said. “The fun thing we get to do is compete. The other stuff, all of the preparation to compete, is fun. It's part of the grind of your job. But you’ve got to do the grind of your job kind of without the fun. I think that’s always the hard part.”

The Cubs' rotation has been plagued by injuries early this season: Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd is on the IL with a left biceps strain (though the team hopes he will require only a minimum stay). His spot in the rotation was filled on Tuesday by Javier Assad.

Furthermore, left-hander Justin Steele is still recovering from the elbow surgery he underwent last April. He has advanced to facing hitters in live batting practice sessions and is aiming for a return in the first half of this season.

Given all of the doom and gloom surrounding the rotation recently, the prospect of Steele’s return offers the Cubs a hint of brightness to latch onto.

“I think that is a positive we have coming, regardless of Cade’s state here,” Counsell said of Steele.

After entering the season with so much promise, Horton now won’t see a big league mound until 2027. However, Counsell is confident that the young hurler will do what’s necessary to ultimately fulfill his immense potential.

“Cade is wired to be successful here, because it’s just who he is,” the manager said. “And he will be successful at it. We're going to miss him this year, but we know he'll be back.”