PITTSBURGH — While settling in to watch “Gladiator II” with his girlfriend last week, Spencer Horwitz received an unexpected notification on his phone that would alter his future in baseball. By the end of the film’s 2 hour and 28-minute runtime, the first baseman had found himself traded—twice.
Initially, he was moved from Toronto to Cleveland, which involved the Blue Jays acquiring standout second baseman Andrés Giménez. Just an hour later, the Guardians traded Horwitz to Pittsburgh in return for three pitchers. Surprisingly, instead of feeling overwhelmed, Horwitz found the turn of events somewhat amusing and felt relieved by the move.
Although he expressed excitement over joining the reigning AL Central champions, he admitted to feeling a bit perplexed by the situation. “I know they have some really good first basemen,” he said, pondering the team’s options following Giménez’s departure. His initial curiosity revolved around whether he might be asked to play second or third base along with his primary role as a first baseman, but ultimately, those weren’t the team’s plans for him.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in need of stability at first base, a position that has seen various players since Josh Bell’s transfer to Washington in December 2020. In the past four years, the Pirates have had four different players serve as their opening day first basemen, including Colin Moran, Yoshi Tsutsugo, Carlos Santana, and Rowdy Tellez. With Horwitz under team control until 2030, he is poised to help the franchise chase success while a strong pitching rotation, highlighted by NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes, lends promise for future contention.
“I mean, the pitching is unbelievable,” Horwitz remarked, acknowledging the powerful arms he faced while playing against the Pirates in the minors. “All of them throw hard and have impressive offspeed pitches. I’m excited to be a part of this team now.”
The 27-year-old player put together a solid season last year with Toronto, hitting .265, along with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs in 97 games. At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, he recognizes that he may not fit the mold of a traditional power hitter for his position. Nevertheless, he believes he can still impact the game effectively without a focus on hitting a high number of home runs.
“I think I bring quality at-bats and can work the count to create opportunities,” he explained. “Damage doesn’t solely have to mean home runs; it can also come from doubles and triples. Though I may not be a speed demon, I can still rack up extra-base hits.”
Horwitz demonstrated his ability to get on base last season, walking 42 times and finishing with a .357 on-base percentage—numbers that would have topped the Pirates, who struggled offensively and recently revamped their coaching staff by hiring Matt Hague as hitting coach. Having collaborated extensively with Hague during their time in Toronto, Horwitz is optimistic about the positive influence he can bring to the organization.
“Hague has been instrumental in my development,” Horwitz noted. “I know I owe a lot of my success to him, and I believe he’ll contribute greatly not just to my growth, but to the entire team.”
As for his placement in the Pirates’ lineup, it remains unclear, especially with established players like left fielder Bryan Reynolds and shortstop Oneil Cruz likely occupying key spots. Horwitz’s on-base skills could see him positioned as a leadoff hitter or in a middle-order role.
Notably, Horwitz reflects on his journey from being a 24th-round pick to reaching the majors, a feat accomplished by few, especially now that MLB’s amateur draft consists of just 20 rounds. He recalls being an underdog trying desperately to catch the scouts’ attention.
He takes pride in his accomplishments thus far but remains driven to achieve more. “I’m proud of where I am, but I’m not satisfied,” he concluded. “There’s a lot I still want to achieve in my career, and I hope to do that wearing the black and gold.”