Cubs’ Cade Horton earns prestigious rookie honor but Brewers overshadow his win

Cade Horton's brilliant 2025 campaign was marred by a season-ending injury that sidelined him for the team's postseason run, but the Chicago Cubs right-hander unquestionably left his mark on the club down the stretch - and his efforts have earned him The Sporting News' NL Rookie of the Year honors.

Before we dig in, let me clarify: this is not the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) Rookie of the Year Award, but it's still noteworthy regardless. Horton is the first Cubs player to earn the honor since Kris Bryant a decade ago - here's just a bit of what the write-up on this year's awards had to say about his rookie campaign.

Horton only improved as the season went on. He flipped a switch in July, pitching to a stellar 1.03 ERA over his final 12 starts and allowing more than one earned run only once over that span. While not a heavy swing-and-miss pitcher, Horton mastered the art of soft contact and gave the Cubs another reliable rotation arm as they pursued a postseason berth.

He finished the year with a 2.67 ERA in 118 innings of work, but as noted above, he really settled in down the stretch, emerging as one of the best pitchers not only on the team, but in all of Major League Baseball.

A healthy Horton slotted into a rotation that will see the return of Justin Steele and All-Star southpaw Matthew Boyd, not to mention Jameson Taillon and, potentially, Shota Imanaga, depending on how the Cubs handle his contract, not to mention potential offseason additions from the front office, offers a glimpse at what could be a major strength for the 2026 team.

Brewers clean up, win NL Manager of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Executive of the Year

Horton bringing home NL Rookie of the Year honors is definitely worth celebrating, but the bulk of this year's awards offer a harsh reminder: the Cubs have, for some time now, been playing second fiddle to the Milwaukee Brewers in the division.

Pat Murphy won National League Manager of the Year for the second straight season - and there's really no arguing with the selection. Milwaukee won 97 games, carrying baseball's best record into October. Craig Counsell's longtime right-hand man has thrived since taking over the top job with the Brewers, establishing himself as a top-shelf manager in the league.

Former MVP Christian Yelich returned to form in 2025, hitting 29 homers and driving in 103 runs - his highest single-season RBI count since that MVP campaign back in 2018. He was dialed in down the stretch in the regular season and played a major role in the team capturing its fourth NL Central crown in the last five years - earning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Last, but certainly not least, Brewers GM Matt Arnold was named the NL Executive of the Year and, again, it's hard to argue with the work he's done. Despite trading high-profile stars in recent years, Milwaukee hasn't missed a beat. As Cubs fans continue lambasting ownership and the front office for not spending more, the Brewers continue doing more with less, only adding insult to injury on the North Side.