Days after the 2022 MLB Draft, the Chicago Cubs were able to sign first-round pick Cade Horton to a contract.
The top of the first first-round of the 2022 MLB Draft was a wild one, to say the least. The Chicago Cubs had one of the more shocking selections (not as much as the Texas Rangers selecting Kumar Rocker at third-overall) by taking Oklahoma pitcher Cade Horton with the No. 7 pick. Horton was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the 24th-best prospect in the entire draft.
Horton and the Cubs were able to reach an agreement on a contract, and the right-handed pitcher officially signed on the dotted line. According to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Horton signed for $4.45 million, which is under the No. 7 slot value of $5.71 million.
Cubs sign first-round pick Cade Horton to contract
In case you needed further proof that Horton signed, he posted photos on his Twitter account.
As Callis points out, selecting Horton allowed the Cubs to select IMG Academy left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris in the second-round with the 47th-overall pick. Ferris was ranked by MLB Pipeline 19th among prospects. It is important to note, however, that Ferris remains unsigned as of this writing.
Horton both pitched and played the infield during his time with the Sooners baseball program. He did miss his freshman season due to undergoing Tommy John surgery. Through 14 games (11 starts) on the mound, Horton recorded a 4.86 ERA, a 1.304 WHIP, 64 strikeouts, and 15 walks over 53.2 innings of work.
But Horton left his mark in this year’s College World Series. In the championship game against Ole Miss, the right-hander struck out a record 13 batters. Through five College World Series starts, Horton posted a 2.61 ERA, a 3-0 record, and struck out 49 batters in 31 innings.
The Cubs were sold on Horton, which is why they selected him with the seventh-overall pick. Now, he has officially signed his contract with the team.