The Cubs have signed their first-round choice Cade Horton with a $4.45MM signing bonus, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter). Horton’s deal is available in south of the slot worth for the seventh general choice, which is allotted $5.71MM.
By coming in underneath slot for Horton, Callis notes, the Cubs had been in a position to make use of their financial savings to draft Jackson Ferris within the second spherical of the draft. That actually counts as a win for Chicago, however Horton himself is not any slouch. The athletic 20-year-old right-hander involves the Cubs as a pitcher, however he was additionally a reliable infielder with Oklahoma, although his offensive numbers don’t leap off the web page. He hit .235/.323/.324 throughout 168 plate appearances whereas principally enjoying third base.
However in fact, the Cubs didn’t draft Horton as an infielder. On the hill for Oklahoma, Horton posted a 4.86 ERA over 14 outings (11 begins) totaling 53 2/3 innings through the NCAA common season. Horton brings an influence arsenal to Chicago. He throws warmth within the higher nineties, which he enhances with a wipeout slider that touches 90 mph.
Horton does include an harm historical past, having missed his freshman season at OU due to Tommy John surgical procedure. The Cubs could consider one of the best is but to come back with Horton as he continues to search out his footing after surgical procedure. He was significantly spectacular through the Faculty World Collection, which little question raised his inventory sufficient to place him into the first-round dialog.
