ALTOONA (93.7 The Fan) – A day when five Pirates were named to the MLB Pipeline’s 50 best prospects in all of baseball, a rising star likely saw his season end.
No one in the organization hit for more power this season than OF/1B Matt Gorski. Before a quad injury suffered on June 29th while legging out a triple in Altoona, Gorski hit 23 home runs, or still nine more than anyone in the Pirates minor league system. This past Wednesday, the right-hand hitter was put on the 60-day injured list.
Crushing news for 24-year-old who burst onto the scene this year thanks to improved offseason work including weight training and various baseball camps.
“My back foot is turned in more now,” Gorski told 93.7 The Fan of the adjustment at the plate. “That helps my back knee not get over my back foot which makes me very rotational. If I can just stay going forward towards the ball, it’s helped a lot. Opened my stance a little bit so I can see the ball a little better and just a little mindset change.”
That mindset change as he tapped into something that is part of new-age sports.
“The (Pirates) mental skills coach helped me a lot seeing what I needed to do,” Gorski said. “Getting that pitch, stepping out of the box, resets. All sorts of things like that.”
All of that led to a .294 average, 10 doubles, four triples, 23 HR, 60 RBI, a .375 OBP and 1.039 OPS combined in just 67 High A and AA games.
His first year of pro ball in the New York-Penn League, the Indiana University prospect hit three home runs all season. After the COVID-19 year off, he hit .223 last season at High A with 17 homers and a .294 OBP and .710 OPS. He said he made eight swing changes in 2021, he listened too much to all of the outside advise. Now he credits Pirates coaches and roving instructors for helping him succeed.
“(So far in) minor league baseball, I didn’t have a ton of success,” Gorski said. “Which I wasn’t used to. I really didn’t have an outlet to go to. You have your friends, your parents, but they are always going to tell you, you are doing great. These guys will keep it real with you and help you the best they can.”
Recently he’s been working with former Pirate Kevin Young, who has helped other prospects learn first base, most notably Josh Bell. Gorski was looking at some more time at first as a quicker avenue to the majors.
“More and more comfortable the more I do it,” Gorski told 93.7 The Fan. “In Spring Training, I had asked if I need a first base mitt. They said ‘nah, you will be fine in the outfield’.”
“You look ahead to some positions in the big leagues and positions in AAA and they’re are stacked in the outfield. The first base position, I don’t want to say it’s open, but there is more opportunity there. Every week I get a couple of opportunities there and I feel more and more comfortable.”
After the progress he has made, the week of seven home runs including three in a game ending in a walk-off. Gorski was primed for an outside shot of some MLB time in 2022. Now it’s about rehabbing and figuring out if he’s a big leaguer in 2023.
“I don’t know if I will know until I get there,” Gorski told 93.7 The Fan about whether he’s prepared to play at the next level. “Personally, I think I’m ready because you have to have that self-confidence. Obviously, it’s a huge jump but I’ve seen success here (Altoona) and I’m ready for the challenges it brings me.”
The first challenge is rehabbing a quad and then the 6’4” Indiana native will have to prove himself all over again.