Horton's stuff -- and guts -- on display in winning MLB debut

NEW YORK -- Two pitches propelled Cade Horton to his status as the Cubs' top pitching prospect -- his 95-plus mph fastball and his wipeout slider. But the one pitch that told the story of his MLB debut wasn't either of those.

It was a changeup. But not just any changeup. A changeup that Horton had the confidence to unveil for the first time at the most important juncture of the game. A changeup to strike out Juan Soto and protect a one-run lead.

Horton pitched Chicago to a 6-5 win over the Mets on Saturday at Citi Field, earning the victory in his first big league outing. His Major League debut started with a bang, his stuff looked nasty and he showcased the confidence to attack a lineup of star hitters. It was just the first impression the Cubs were looking for.

"I think he learned that his stuff definitely works here, and plays here," manager Craig Counsell said.

• What to expect from Cubs top pitching prospect Horton in the bigs

Ranked the Cubs' No. 2 prospect and No. 46 in baseball by MLB Pipeline, Horton entered the game in the second inning behind opener Brad Keller. The 23-year-old right-hander went four innings, allowed three runs on four hits and finished with no walks and five strikeouts. He was backed by a big day from Dansby Swanson, who homered for the first time since he and his wife, U.S. women's soccer star Mallory Swanson, announced earlier this week that they're expecting their first child.

Horton struck out the first batter he faced in his big league career -- pumping a 96 mph fastball past Brandon Nimmo. Horton saved the baseball from that one, and it'll go on display in his bar room.

But it was his fifth and final K that was the most impressive.

Facing Soto in the fifth inning with a 4-3 lead and the tying run aboard, Horton had thrown only fastballs, sliders and curveballs in the game. Soto had seen it all, and you can only show Juan Soto the same pitches so many times before he punishes them.

So Horton -- having thrown exactly zero changeups -- went to his fourth pitch. Against one of the best hitters in the world. He had to shake off his catcher to do it. And it worked.

"That's the exact reason I wanted to use it there -- because I knew he probably wasn't expecting a changeup there," Horton said.

"I wasn't saving it for him. I just thought it would be a really good opportunity to use it. Given the situation -- I hadn't used it all day. He'd seen my slider. He'd seen my curveball. And he hadn't seen the changeup yet."

Horton had worked a 2-2 count on Soto, and catcher Miguel Amaya called for a high fastball. Horton shook him off. He wanted to throw the changeup, and he threw a beautiful one, fading out of the strike zone down and away. He was rewarded with one of the most awkward swings you'll ever see from Soto for an "easy" K.

"He executed right where he needed to execute it, so it was perfect," Amaya said. "That tells you right away what kind of pitcher he is. That's why he's here and helping us."

Against Soto in a big spot, Horton was confident and collected. He had already buckled down from his one blemish on the score sheet -- a three-run homer allowed to Brett Baty, who got a hold of a hanging slider in the fourth and went deep to right-center field.

"It's the first homer I've given up; it's not going to be the last one," Horton quipped. "So just move on to the next pitch."

But it was still Horton’s Major League debut, and he was pitching in front of his family. Horton had nearly 20 family members in the stands to watch his MLB debut after he was called up from Triple-A Iowa for the series in New York with Shota Imanaga going on the injured list earlier in the week. Saturday would have been Imanaga's day to start.

That meant nerves and adrenaline, especially taking the mound in New York with the atmosphere at Citi Field.

"Looking back now, that third deck looked high up there," Horton said. "But [it was just about] settling in and finding the target."

Horton tried to keep things as normal as possible, even when he had to piggyback on an opener instead of pitching as a starter like he's accustomed to.

That meant warming up in the bullpen during the first inning, while Keller was pitching, before returning to the Cubs’ dugout in preparation for taking the mound for the first time. Horton wanted to make his entrance as if he were starting.

"That's why I came down in the top of the second," Horton said. "I wanted to come out of the dugout instead of running out from the 'pen."