Spencer Horwitz was on his method to the flicks to see “Gladiator II” when he noticed the Blue Jays acquired second baseman Andrés Giménez from the Guardians. A couple of minutes later, he obtained a name from Blue Jays basic supervisor Ross Atkins saying that he was a part of the package deal of gamers going again to Cleveland.
It was a shock for Horwitz, who had grown from a Twenty fourth-round Draft decide to the No. 9 first base prospect in baseball getting into the 2024 season, in response to MLB Pipeline. He had a strong rookie marketing campaign, too, slashing .265/.357/.433 with 12 residence runs in 97 video games performed final season. He was leaving the one group he had ever recognized, however he wasn’t going to be a Guardian for lengthy. In his first cellphone name together with his new membership, they advised him one other staff had simply referred to as them about him, and that one other commerce was a risk.
“I used to be ecstatic,” Horwitz stated concerning the second commerce over Zoom on Wednesday. “Going to Cleveland, I used to be just a little confused. I do know they’ve some actually good first basemen and so they had Giménez. I used to be curious if I used to be going to play second there or what the plan was. Then once I obtained traded to Pittsburgh, I used to be tremendous excited as a result of I do know they have been on the lookout for some extra offense, and clearly I get to work with [hitting coach] Matt Hague once more. He is been my hitting coach since Double-A. I work very well with him and I am excited to hopefully proceed that.”
Reuniting together with his longtime hitting coach Hague is a plus. The Pirates discovering their first baseman of the long run could be a boon. The staff has cycled by way of completely different veterans on the place lately, largely to adverse outcomes. Going into the offseason, the Pirates knew they wanted to improve their offense, and first base and nook outfield had been prime positions to present a lift.
It’s why the Pirates and Guardians had lengthy talked a couple of deal for a primary baseman earlier than Horwitz was with the group. As soon as that commerce was made, the Pirates had been in a position to make a transfer for a participant they lengthy coveted.
“It is a place that has been an space of want for us for some time now,” basic supervisor Ben Cherington stated on the Winter Conferences. “We have had a listing of men on the market we have been type of monitoring, and he was considered one of them. [We] had dialogue straight with Toronto, I feel in all probability again over the course of a pair years about him and made some makes an attempt to get him straight from Toronto. Simply wasn’t in a position to try this. So, it labored going by way of Cleveland this time.”
Horwitz has largely served as a utility man in his professional profession, enjoying second base and the outfield along with first base. That’s the kind of ability that may assist a Twenty fourth-round decide elevate himself to a extremely rated prospect.
“Being a late-round decide and an undersized first baseman, as some folks would say, I used to be doing every thing I might to get observed,” Horwitz stated. “I nonetheless have that mentality. I am not going to lose that.”
Producing on the plate is one other method to make a reputation for your self. Horwitz doesn’t have the normal pop that comes with first base, however his .790 OPS and 125 OPS+ present that he can create runs different methods.
“Some folks need 30 or 40 residence runs,” Horwitz stated. “I feel I deliver a high quality bat, I can work counts and do injury, and injury is not simply residence runs. That is what I’ve realized, that it may are available doubles and triples. I am not the burner that may get numerous triples, however they’re going to come.”
If Horwitz clicks, it could be a large increase for a Pirates staff that has the beginning pitching to compete already in place. For Horwitz, it’s a chance the 27-year-old lefty-hitting infielder has been working towards for years.
“Nothing’s going to be given to me,” Horwitz stated. “I do know that. But it surely’s good to really feel wished, and that is thrilling. I feel it will be a very good alternative for each of us.”
