Matt Gorski is taking MLB Spring Training by storm

With a name like Gorski, he’s already sounding like a Pittsburgher!

There are plenty of non-roster invitations every year, but there is perhaps none shining brighter than Matt Gorski, as he is taking over Pirate City this Spring Training.

Through three games, Gorski leads the Grapefruit League in both home runs and RBIs, notching three and nine respectively. In this span, Gorski has a .500 average, with three hits, and a 2.429 OPS. Typically, the pitchers are ahead of the batters in Spring Training, but this power surge of Gorski is clearly the exception.

Gorski was drafted by the Pirates in the second round of the 2019 draft, and although he was the Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year in 2022, he took a step back in 2023. Some mechanical changes, and a new approach at the plate yielded great results for 2024 in AAA, as he finished with 23 homers, 15 steals, and a .522 slugging percentage.

“He looks like he’s more in line,” manager Derek Shelton said. “He’s more aggressive. He’s in the zone. I think you can see the maturation of him as a player, and we’re seeing it early in the spring [with] the contact he’s making.”

Even with those monster numbers, he was relegated to the minor leagues, spending the entirety of the year with triple-a Indianapolis, but his chances of coming to Pittsburgh are now better than ever.

A strong defender in the outfield, Gorski is definitely in the running for the team’s fourth outfielder for the regular season. He currently has better numbers than Jack Suwinski, who is also a fringe major leaguer at this point in his career. Not to mention, the Pirates are down a first baseman to start the season. Conveniently enough, Gorski has some experience playing first base in the minors, and has seen some reps there this Spring as well. Necessity could create opportunity in this case, and Gorski could find himself going to the show.

“I know during some of my meetings they asked if I would be comfortable moving from first base to center field, and I don’t think a lot can really say that,” Gorski said. “I think that’s a big tool that I can bring.”

There is still a lot of time left before Spring is over and the regular season begins, but there’s no doubt that Matt Gorski is the king of Bradenton right now, crushing baseballs left and right with a very real chance of seeing some playing time in the majors this year.