Perrotto: Battle Might Be Leveling off for Spencer Horwitz
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Pirates thought Spencer Horwitz was the right hitter to boost their ailing offense.
That is why traded right-hander Luis Ortiz and two left-handed pitching prospects to the Cleveland Guardians to acquire Horwitz from the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a three-way deal at the Winter Meetings last December.
General manager Ben Cherington believed Horwitz would help raise the Pirates’ on-base percentage while finally giving them a long-term solution at first base. The Pirates also felt the 27-year-old left-handed hitter’s power could increase by playing his home games at PNC Park.
However, it hasn’t worked out that way. Horwitz is hitting .249/.318/.348 with two home runs in 51 games, and the Pirates are last in the major leagues in runs scored.
Things started going wrong for Horwitz in the weeks leading up to spring training when he broke the hamate bone in his left hand two weeks before the start of camp and underwent surgery. Horwitz did not see his first game action until beginning a rehab assignment on April 27 with Double-A Altoona, then did not make his Pirates’ debut until May 17, which was 46 games into the season.
Horwitz admits that much of what has happened to him since coming to the Pirates has been disorienting.
“I think getting traded is harder than I thought,” Horwitz said. “It’s a new environment, new people. And then also, surgery is harder than I thought. Those aren’t excuses, but that’s your first time doing both of those things, and first time struggling, really, at the big leagues for a long time, too. It’s foreign and new, but the only way is through.”
The first two games of a three-game series against the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers at PNC Park are providing the Pirates hope that Horwitz is indeed breaking through.
In Monday night’s 3-0 victory, Horwitz went 3 for 4 and drove in the game’s first run.
Horwitz’s two-run double in the second inning opened the scoring Tuesday night and gave the Pirates a lead that never relinquished in an 8-5 win. Horwitz was again 3 for 4, adding two doubles and a walk and even reaching first base on a wild pitch after striking out.
Horwitz batted leadoff in both games despite being one of the slowest runners on the team. Though it’s only two games, 6 for 8 is impressive to Pirates manager Don Kelly.
“His at-bats have been really good,” Kelly said. “It looks like he’s staying within himself and not trying to do too much. He’s come up with some big base hits. Just good to see him getting that confidence going. He’s a good hitter. Excited for him and excited to see him get rolling.”
For his part, Horwitz is just happy to start showing progress after beginning his career by hitting .264/.355/.428 with 13 home runs combined for the Blue Jays in the previous two seasons.
“No matter how you’re feeling, physically, mentally, emotionally, baseball’s there,” Horwitz said. “And whether you like it or not, it’s going to show up the next day, and you’ve got to go out there and battle, battle, battle.”
Finally, the battle no longer seems to be so uphill for Horwitz.
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