The 2025 baseball season kept Chicago Cubs fans, league policy followers, and analytics buffs on their toes. Rising star Cade Horton narrowly missed the National League Rookie of the Year award, but he still snagged some serious career perks and made his mark as a future anchor for the team.
Right there with him, Matt Shaw picked up rookie honors. Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai teased a move across the Pacific. Major League Baseball rolled out new betting rules, and some fresh hitting mechanic insights popped up. The sport just never sits still—on the field, in the front office, or even in the rulebook.
Cade Horton’s Rookie Success Extends Beyond Awards
The rookie voting put Cade Horton in second place, but his debut season’s impact went way beyond that. Thanks to MLB’s pre-arbitration bonus program, Horton landed a $500,000 bonus and locked in a full year of service time—even without the award.
Why Service Time Matters for Horton’s Future
One year of service credit could mean millions for a young player down the road. For Horton, it opens the door to free agency after his age-28 season instead of 29. That’s a big deal for his future earnings and leverage.
Horton’s rookie run leaned on an elite fastball-changeup combo that reminded folks of Jacob deGrom’s 2014 rookie campaign. MLB Pipeline put him on their First-Team All-Rookie list, a nod to his bright future.
Matt Shaw’s Recognition and a Curious Voting Quirk
Matt Shaw joined Horton in postseason rookie honors, landing on MLB Pipeline’s Second-Team All-Rookie. His stats didn’t quite match the top-tier rookies, but Shaw’s steady play got noticed, and he even picked up a few surprise Rookie of the Year votes.
One Ballot That Raised Eyebrows
One voter tossed Shaw a third-place vote but left Horton off the ballot. These oddities pop up sometimes, reminding us that awards voting isn’t always a straight numbers game.
Tatsuya Imai Eyes MLB Competition
Over in Japan, pitcher Tatsuya Imai made it clear he’s interested in jumping from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB. He’s been dominant at home and now wants to test himself against the league’s hardest throwers and biggest sluggers.
Potential Impact of Imai’s Move
If Imai comes over, he’d join a wave of international stars chasing bigger challenges and rewards in MLB. Maybe he’ll follow the path of Shohei Ohtani or Kodai Senga—who knows?
MLB Takes Action on Pitch-Level Betting
In policy news, Major League Baseball and top sportsbooks agreed to tighten restrictions on pitch-by-pitch betting. They say these steps will protect the integrity of the game.
Key Restrictions Announced
The changes look like this:
- No more than $200 on a single pitch
- No parlays that combine multiple pitch-level bets
Commissioner Rob Manfred praised everyone for working together, calling the move a smart way to guard against match-fixing risks.
Advances in Hitting Analytics
The season also brought new research into hitting mechanics. Analysts are still digging into the best ways to measure and build bat speed, which is key for offense.
Why Average Bat Speed Matters More Than Peak Speed
Max bat speed might send balls flying, but experts now say average bat speed across many swings matters more for long-term success. It’s all about timing, control, and keeping your swing consistent—those are the things that make good hitters, not just raw power once in a while.
A Season of Change and Opportunity
Emerging stars like Cade Horton are making their mark. Matt Shaw steps up as a breakout contributor, while international pitchers such as Tatsuya Imai draw plenty of interest.
This league feels like it’s in constant motion. New betting rules try to keep things honest, and analytical approaches keep pushing skill development forward.
MLB in 2025 feels like a tug-of-war between evolution and tradition. For Cubs fans, it’s tempting to focus on awards, but real progress comes from players who turn chances—like Horton’s service time break—into real, lasting performance.
Here is the source article for this story: Horton Provided and Gets Value, Shaw’s Nod, Imai, Prop Caps, Bat Speed, and Other Cubs Bullets
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