It will be a little bit before we see the Cubs’ top pitching prospect back on a mound.

Cade Horton was diagnosed with a subscapular strain and is shut down from throwing for the next 3-4 weeks.

He was removed from his outing in Triple-A Iowa last week and got checked out by doctors in Chicago.

The 22-year-old right-hander is one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball and the best arm in the Cubs system. He ranked as the game’s No. 24 prospect by Baseball America entering this season.

Horton is 2-1 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 9 starts this year between Double-A and Triple-A. He began the season dominating with Tennessee (1.10 ERA) before moving up to Iowa and experiencing some struggles (7.50 ERA).

[WATCH: Cade Horton shows how he has adjusted his pitching mechanics]

He has the ability to miss bats (40 strikeouts in 34.1 innings) but walks have been an issue at the highest minor-league level with 11 free passes in 18 innings.

After a multi-week absence like Horton is facing, it will take time for him to build back up and the Cubs will undoubtedly play things safe with their prized young arm.

The thought was Horton could potentially help the Cubs’ big-league pitching staff in some capacity down the stretch so it will be interesting to see how long his ramp-up period will be and how he performs in the minors after a long layoff.

Elsewhere in injury news, Jordan Wicks is throwing a bullpen Wednesday and will make his next start this weekend – though the Cubs are determining whether that start will come in the big leagues or in Triple-A Iowa.

Wicks (forearm) has made 3 rehab appearances in Iowa and has a 3.12 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 8.2 innings.