School: University of Oklahoma; Class: Redshirt Freshman
Position: 3B/SS/RHP; B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2; Weight: 190
Previously Drafted: N/A
High School: Norman High School
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | N/A | 70 | 45 | 50 | 60 |
Background: A highly touted, decorated two-way player coming out of Norman High School. Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report ranked the infielder / right-hander as the two bet prospect in the state of Oklahoma. The outlets ranked him as the 14th and 34th overall player in the country as well. On the gridiron the 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback passed for more than 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns during his senior season, rushing for an additional 1,149 years and 15 TDs. The 2020 Oklahoma Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year committed to the University of Oklahoma as a two-sport athlete (he agreed to be a walk-on for the football team).
But before his freshman baseball season could kickoff, Horton torn his UCL and missed the year rehabbing from the subsequent Tommy John surgery.
Finally healthy in 2022, the hard-throwing right-hander made 14 appearances for the Sooners, 11 of which were starts, throwing 53.2 innings with 64 strikeouts and just 15 walks. He compiled a 4.86 ERA. Horton also batted .235/.323/.324 as the team’s third baseman / shortstop.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2015, only five Big 12 pitchers averaged between 10.25 and 11.5 strikeouts and between 2.25 and 2.75 walks per nine innings in a season (min. 50 IP): Jordan Wicks, Jake Irvin, Micah Dallas, Kyle Tyler, and – of course – Cade Horton.
Horton’s season ended on a bittersweet note as he struck out a 13 batters, a College World Series final record, in a loss to Ole Miss. Filthy arsenal highlighted by a mid- to upper-90s fastball and an 86- to 90-mph wicked slider, with the latter being his best pitch – a plus, plus offering. Horton will mix in a decent, reluctant changeup. He also did away with his curveball at some part in the latter half of the college season as well. The lack of a consistent third option and the recent Tommy John surgery are the only things keeping him away from being the first pitcher chosen in the 2022 draft. ELECTRIC.
Ceiling: 4.0-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
Grade: First Round
