{"id":53148,"date":"2025-05-05T09:42:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T09:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=53148"},"modified":"2025-05-05T09:42:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T09:42:56","slug":"latest-injury-opens-door-for-top-cubs-prospect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=53148","title":{"rendered":"Latest Injury Opens Door for Top Cubs Prospect"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\">\n<div>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Shota-Imanaga.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Shota-Imanaga.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Shota-Imanaga.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Shota-Imanaga.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Latest Injury Opens Door for Top Cubs Prospect\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Getty<\/p>\n<p>Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At this rate, the <\/span>Chicago Cubs <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> may have no choice but to call up their top pitching prospect.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On Sunday, Chicago\u2019s best starter, <\/span>Shota Imanaga <span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span>had to leave the game <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning with what the team later said was a left hamstring strain. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With a runner on first base, Christian Yelich hit a groundball to Cubs first baseman Michael Busch, who threw to second base for the forceout. Imanaga raced to first to take a return throw and try for the inning-ending double play, but he pulled up and grabbed at the back of his leg, as Yelich reached base safely.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cObviously, you don\u2019t want that to happen to anyone,\u201d Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker said. \u201cHe\u2019s had a really good year to start off this year. He\u2019s been great for us for a while now. Obviously, we\u2019d like to have him continue to go back out there.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chicago manager Craig Counsell said that Imanaga will undergo imaging to determine the severity of the injury, and he was not ready to discuss a potential trip to the injured list for the 31-year-old left-hander.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> ,<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Shota Imanaga Leaves Sunday\u2019s Start With Strained Hamstring<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sunday\u2019s game was actually the second straight in which leg issues forced Imanaga to be removed in the sixth inning. Facing the Pirates on Tuesday, Imanaga reportedly had cramping in both quadriceps and had to come out of the game.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, Imanaga, talking through an interpreter after Sunday\u2019s game, said the cramps were not a concern, and he went through his regular routine leading up to the start at Milwaukee, with no problems.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThis week, my body physically has felt really good,\u201d Imanaga said. \u201cEven before the game, I felt amazing. Hydration, everything included, felt great. So there was no sign for the back of my leg before the game or anything like that. So, I\u2019m in shock.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Imanaga was <\/span>pitching a strong game <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> for Chicago before he strained the hamstring. He allowed two runs on four hits and a walk with four strikeouts. However, Freddy Peralta and a trio of Brewers relievers held the Cubs scoreless on just five hits, winning 4-0.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Loss of Time for Shota Imanaga Could Open Up Spot For Cade Horton<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_5348135\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=782,440 782w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=780,439 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=425,239 425w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=660,371 660w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=267,150 267w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cade-Horton.jpg?resize=225,127 225w\" alt=\"Latest Injury Opens Door for Top Cubs Prospect\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5348135\" data-lazy-load=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5348135\">GettyChicago Cubs prospect Cade Horton has impressed at Triple-A Iowa, potentially earning a callup to Chicago if Shota Imanaga is forced to miss time due to a strained hamstring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Any lost time for Imanaga, who is 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA, would be <\/span>just the latest injury-related blow <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to the Cubs\u2019 pitching staff. Already down Justin Steele following season-ending elbow surgery, Chicago recently moved Javier Assad to the 60-day injured list after aggravating his strained left oblique in his second rehab start on April 22. The move opened up a spot on the 4-man rotation for right-hander Chris Flexen, a seven-year veteran signed to a minor league contract who was just called up from Triple-A Iowa.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Should the Cubs place Imanaga on the injured list, it would potentially open up a spot for 23-year-old <\/span>Cade Horton <span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the Cubs <\/span>No. 2 prospect <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> who they drafted in the first round (7<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> overall) in the 2022 draft. After finishing the 2024 season with Iowa, Horton started there this season and has gone 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA, striking out 33 batters in 29 innings. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In <\/span>his latest start on Sunday <span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Horton pitched six innings and gave up just one run. Horton has made six starts, covering 29 innings, and has only given up 12 hits, although there is a bit of concern over his 13 walks.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Despite his success, Counsell said he was not prepared to talk about calling Horton up to Chicago.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWe\u2019re not even close to there, yet,\u201d Counsell said.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Dave Benson Dave Benson is a longtime writer with over three decades of experience in a variety of mediums, including 15 years covering high school, collegiate and minor league sports in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Dave is also a licensed English teacher and spent a few years teaching at the middle school level. More about Dave Benson<\/p>\n<h2>More Heavy on Cubs News<\/h2>\n<p>Loading more stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga left Sunday&#8217;s game with a strained hamstring, opening up a potential spot for top prospect Cade Horton.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":53149,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Latest Injury Opens Door for Top Cubs Prospect - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=53148\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Latest Injury Opens Door for Top Cubs Prospect - 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