Horton fights some fastball command that’s just missing armside in the first, but the breaking balls save him, one great curveball and a handful of good sliders. Looked like a pro adjusting and battling from behind.
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Thru 3 scoreless, with Horton at 53 pitches. The fastball has yielded both hits (and both on 2-strike counts) and the walk, the breaking balls have been pretty fantastic. It’s not any form of dominance so far, but it’s certainly a level above competence.
Dominant Horton arrives in the fourth, where five fastball called strikes (generally in phenomenal locations) allows him to get hitters on the heels, with 3 strikeouts coming via slider, then fastball, then curveball. Really nice day for that always underappreciated curve.
Bryan, any thoughts on his ability to induce weak contact/GB early in counts to help him go deeper in games? This is often a step that happens at MLB level, and he's clearly letting his stuff eat. Just something I've noticed w/ Horton - high pitch counts & K's, low IP relative to pitch count.
It’s something you’ll definitely want him to start inducing, but as he throws plenty of good breakers in the zone early in counts, I would say he does the right things to make that happen, AAA hitters just aren’t appropriately responding.
Horton is looking really good. If bullpen issues continue as the cubs cycle guys out, I can absolutely see the Cubs calling up Horton at the earliest mid May for relief duty to get him acclimated to mlb at bats and work in spot starts.
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4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB (leadoff hitter), 5 K. 38 CSW%.
Retired last 9 he faced.
The May debut now firmly in his sights.