Spencer Horwitz is eager to find his place with the Pirates after being traded twice in one day, bringing his skills to Pittsburgh.
First, he moved from Toronto to Cleveland, and then just an hour later, he was sent to Pittsburgh. It was a whirlwind, but honestly, he found it kind of entertaining. He felt relieved too.
When he heard he was going to the Guardians, he was thrilled. But he was also a bit puzzled. He knew they had some solid first basemen and wondered where he would fit in.
Well, it turns out he’s stepping into a position that’s been a bit of a revolving door for the Pirates since they traded Josh Bell back in 2020. They’ve had four different opening day first basemen in the last four years.
Horwitz, who’s got a contract through the end of the decade, is looking to bring some stability to the team. They believe they’re ready to compete, especially with a strong pitching lineup led by NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes.
He’s impressed by the pitching staff, recalling how tough they were to face in the minors. Now, he’s excited to be on their side. Last season, he hit .265 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs for Toronto.
At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, he knows he’s not your typical power hitter for first base. But he believes he can still make an impact. “Damage isn’t just home runs,” he said. “It can come in doubles or triples.”
Horwitz had 42 walks last season, and his .357 on-base percentage would have led the Pirates, who struggled offensively last year. They’ve made some changes, including hiring Matt Hague as hitting coach, someone Horwitz has worked with before.
He’s not sure where he’ll fit in the lineup yet, but he’s flexible. He could lead off or bat in the middle. What matters most to him is that he’s made it this far, especially as a 24th-round pick.
He’s proud of his journey but knows there’s more to achieve. “I have a lot more I want to accomplish in this game,” he said, hoping to do it all in Pittsburgh’s black and gold.