Cade Horton Named Sporting News Rookie of the Year
Different award nominations continue to roll in, with the Cubs being recognized for their excellence both offensively and defensively. Matthew Boyd, Carson Kelly, Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw, Ian Happ, and Pete Crow-Armstrong were all selected as finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. Hoerner and Crow-Armstrong were joined by Kyle Tucker on Wednesday as potential winners of the Silver Slugger Awards. In addition, the Cubs were named a finalist for the National League Offensive Team of the Year. The recognition isn’t done yet, with Cade Horton next up on the docket.
The Sporting News announced its 2025 MLB Awards on Thursday, which are voted on by individuals within the game of baseball. It’s a unique approach, as instead of having writers around the game decide who was most valuable, the input comes directly from the players themselves.
“Players vote on player awards, while managers choose among their fellow managers and executives choose the season’s top executive, in addition to the All-Star teams,” Dan Treacy of SN wrote. “While baseball is constantly evolving as a sport, the tradition of returning the decision to those on the field and in the clubhouse endures. This year included votes from 320 players, 20 managers (11 AL and nine NL), and 22 executives.”
Horton posted a 2.67 ERA across 23 appearances, allowing just 10 home runs in 118.0 innings of work. He didn’t record a high number of strikeouts but was extremely efficient in inducing soft contact that resulted in outs. The rookie limited free passes, boasting a 6.9% walk rate that ranked in the 69th percentile across the sport.
Every strikeout on Cade Horton’s fastball in 2025 pic.twitter.com/ypuSQvEq2g
— The Wrigley Wire (@TheWrigleyWire) October 23, 2025
He’s the first Cub to be named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year since Kris Bryant in 2015, who also won the BBWAA Rookie of the Year. Horton will look to follow suit on November 10, with the chance to become the seventh player in Cubs history to be named the league’s best rookie. Horton closed the season as the betting favorite, with Braves catcher Drake Baldwin his closest competition.
