PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Just a couple of weeks ago at PiratesFest, first baseman Spencer Horwitz said he was coming in physically and mentally ready to roll. He said he will go down to Florida ready to compete trying to earn the first base job.
Now, surgery on a chronic condition that may sideline Horwitz for a month of the regular season.
The 27-year-old had a procedure to his right wrist, where the power comes from in a left-handed swing, to ‘address chronic symptoms’. The chronic symptoms immediately makes some think of Ke’Bryan Hayes, who has been dealing with nagging, repeated injuries for years.
Several questions from how do you not know about chronic symptoms? To why to you make a trade for an unestablished MLB player with chronic symptoms? To why did you give up a promising young pitcher and two minor league lefties for a mostly career minor league with chronic symptoms?
The immediate question is who plays first base as Horwitz was regarded by most as the opening day starter.
· A naturally great fielder, Jared Triolo can play anywhere defensively. The right-handed hitter played six games at first for the Pirates last year. For the season, Triolo hit 10 doubles and nine home runs in 114 games.
· Former Pirates minor league player of the year, 6’, 24-year-old catcher Endy Rodriguez played 45 games in his career at first with a .993 fielding percentage. The switch-hitter returns after missing most of the 2024 season.
· It was brought up at the end of the 2024 season about Bryan Reynolds getting some work at first base. Reynolds said two weeks ago about working at first ‘I haven’t done much. I’ve been throwing with a first-base glove and catching with it. But, I expect to be in the outfield for most I’m sure.’ From an offensive standpoint, he brings the most to the table, but no experience at the position.
· It hasn’t been catcher or right field to this point, if Henry Davis could build on 13 home runs and a .956 OPS in 57 games in AAA, could they make him a first baseman?
· Billy Cook has the most experience overall having played 119 games at first in a mostly minor-league career. Acquired from the Orioles at the 2024 trade deadline, he is the only other first baseman listed on the roster. The 26-year-old, right-handed hitter had a .849 OPS in mostly AA and AAA at bats last year.
· 27-year-old, right-handed hitter Matt Gorski is coming off a 23-home-run season at AAA and the outfielder played 14 games at first last year.
· 29-year-old, left-handed hitter Darick Hall is a non-roster invitee after 16 home runs and 72 RBI and a .706 OPS for the Phillies AAA team last year. He is primarily a first-baseman.
· Malcom Nunez is a 23-year-old, right-hand hitting prospect with a lot of experience at first base, but only hit 11 homers with a .675 OPS in 128 games in AAA last year.
· Several catchers in their careers have transitioned to first base, but Joey Bart has never played there.
Even if the Pirates are going to get into a playoff position this year, the margin is likely to be razor-thin. Can any of these players make you a better team? Maybe it’s an opportunity that someone seizes and we rarely see any of Spencer Horwitz in 2025.
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