Overview
- The Atlanta Braves announced Horner’s death on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, saying the team was informed by his wife; no cause of death has been released.
- Horner was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 MLB draft and skipped the minor leagues to debut with the Braves days later, earning National League Rookie of the Year that season.
- He spent nine seasons in Atlanta and hit four home runs in a single game on July 6, 1986, becoming the first Braves player to do so.
- After the 1986 season Horner signed to play in Japan for the Yakult Swallows, returned to MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988, and retired after shoulder problems curtailed comeback attempts.
- Horner finished his major league career with a .277 average, 218 home runs and an .839 OPS, and the Braves offered condolences to his wife Chris and sons Tyler and Trent as fans and media have posted tributes.