PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He’s been in the Pirates minor-league system long enough that he played for the West Virginia Black Bears in the now disbanded New York Penn League. Matt Gorski finally gets that first game at PNC Park Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old had been in PNC Park for a game once, back in 2022 right before he had surgery after rupturing his hamstring. He was opening eyes that season, the right-handed hitting outfielder started in High A Greenboro and in 37 games had 17 home runs and 37 RBI and a 1.131 OPS. He moved to AA Altoona where he was starting to figure out the pitchers and had 16 extra base hits in 38 games before hurting his hamstring rounding a base.
The former Indiana University star would hit 20 homers, 20 doubles with 23 stolen bases between AA and AAA in 2023. Last year exclusively in AAA, he hit 23 home runs with 24 doubles and five triples with a .841 OPS.
After a .300 average, three homers, seven doubles and a .300 average in 18 games at AAA this year, Gorski got the call. In his first MLB start, with his family in the stands in Anaheim, Gorski homered. He would come in late in the game on Sunday as well.
“It may be a lot different than people think,” Gorski said Tuesday. “When I was starting in (Anaheim) in my debut. I was a lot less nervous than when I had to come in, in Dodger Stadium. I think when you know you are in there, the whole day is built up to that moment, instead of thinking you may not be in there. You could get an at bat. You could go in for defense or pinch-run or whatever the team needs. I think it’s a lot easier to just be in there.”
He's not going to be in there often, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he will get the at bats they have for him. That translates to not many opportunities with Tommy Pham hitting better in left and Enmanuel Valdez having been their biggest surprise this year and he’s at first base along with Jared Triolo.
“I think it’s part of the journey,” Gorski said. “I will be in there against lefties a lot, I feel like. Just going to have to work every day to get better.”
The Bucs second-round pick in 2019 said he talked to some other players about the situation. With so few games and opportunities, he’s finding out how to stay sharp in other ways. That could be the weight room, in the batting cage and whatever live reps he can get.
Gorski said you work your whole career for this situation. He believes it’s an advantage coming up this early in the season. He worked all offseason at Pirate City to make the most of this season.
Regardless of how long he is in the majors, this will have an impact on him.
“It motivates anybody who gets a taste of it,” Gorski said. “The shinier things here are better than in the minor leagues, everything from the weight room, to the training room to the food. Once you get a taste of it, it’s something you strive for.”
The Pirates have been looking for a power bat. He is the most major league ready of the prospects. How much of an opportunity will he get? And what will he do with it?