MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs’ farm system is rich in talent to the point that nearly every Cactus League game this spring has featured some of the organization’s future stars. Spring Breakout is a chance to pack the prospects together on one team that will get a dedicated turn in the national spotlight.
“It's definitely a really cool opportunity. I'm really excited,” Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton said. “It's always fun going out there and competing against the best players. A lot of those guys will play for the next 15-20 years, hopefully, so it's really cool to see us so young and being able to just develop and get a chance to play in that.”
• FAQ: Everything you need to know about Cubs’ Spring Breakout
A loaded list of Cubs prospects is slated to take on a group of White Sox prospects at 4:05 p.m. CT on Friday at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. The game will be available across MLB Digital platforms (MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App), as well as on Marquee Sports Network, ESPN+ and Gameday.
Here are five reasons to tune in to the first-of-its-kind showcase for the Cubs:
1. Horton steps into the spotlight
Cubs fans will have a chance to see one of the best pitching prospects in baseball in Horton. And while the righty is not on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, the North Siders have a recent history of being willing to push deserving prospects swiftly up the ladder. Righty Javier Assad climbed from Double-A Tennessee to the Majors in 2022 and lefty Jordan Wicks did the same in ‘23. Horton, who was Chicago’s first-round pick in the ‘22 Draft, has the potential to follow that path this summer.
“Knowing that good work, good process and good results are likely to be rewarded, it's a really powerful thing, right?” said Ryan Otero, the Cubs’ director of pitching. “Players all know what they're going for, but I think seeing their peers … put in work, get results and go up there, I have to imagine that's a really encouraging thing, just knowing that what you're working for is extremely tangible and right there.”