Cade Horton seeks specialist after MRI reveals arm strain

LOS ANGELES: Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton visited a medical specialist in Texas following an MRI on his injured right arm.

Horton met with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, two days after being placed on the 15-day injured list with a forearm strain.

The IL move was retroactive to Saturday, after Horton exited Friday’s start against the Cleveland Guardians following just over an inning and 17 pitches.

He retired the side in order in the first inning but left the game after walking Kyle Manzardo to open the second.

“I had some tightness in my wrist and as the game went on, it went into my forearm,” Horton said. “I wanted to err on the cautious side and not hurt anything else. I just wanted to make a smart decision.”

Horton, 24, had lowered his ERA to 2.45 after allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings during a March 28 win over the Washington Nationals.

A first-round pick (seventh overall) in 2022, Horton went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) last season and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting