In a move early on Friday, the Cubs recalled left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa and optioned fellow lefty Luke Little down to Iowa.

Wicks was optioned to Triple-A before the start of the domestic season opener after initially being included on the team’s roster for the Tokyo Series. As Wicks was pitching down in the minors, he got to pitch alongside one of the top Cubs pitching prospects in Cade Horton.

Marquee Sports Network’s player development analyst Lance Brozdowski ranks Horton as the No. 5 prospect in the Cubs’ farm system.

With Horton knocking on the door of the big leagues, Wicks spoke to the media ahead of Friday’s game and explained what he’s noticed in the Cubs pitching prospect.

“It’s electric that’s for sure. It’s fun to watch. I was excited this year because I got to see him,” Wicks said. “What I saw last year in my brief stint in Triple-A, you could tell he wasn’t healthy. This year, he looks completely different than the brief time right before he went down last year. It’s electric and he’s doing really well.”

[MLB prospect rankings: Top 10 Cubs minor leaguers for 2025 season]

Horton was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft with the seventh overall pick. Through his years in the minors, Horton has embraced the highs and lows. While he has his share of success rising through the minors of the Cubs, injuries have plagued the young right-hander.

In 2024, Horton suffered a subscapular strain injury that shut him down for most of the 2024 season in Triple-A. Prior to his injury, he finished the 2024 campaign with a 2-1 record, 4.46 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in nine starts between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.

As Horton looks to get back to a full healthy season, he has posted outstanding numbers going 1-1 and a 1.46 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in three starts for Iowa. If Horton continues his dominance in the minors and remains healthy, there’s a good chance the young right-hander would get the call to the majors and pitch in front of Cubs fans.

Head over to the Marquee Sports Network app to hear from Cade Horton on Road to Wrigley Live!