Spencer Horwitz, expected to be the regular first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will miss six to eight weeks following wrist surgery. The news, first reported by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writers Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin, has since been confirmed by the Pirates.
1B Spencer Horwitz had a procedure to his right wrist last week to address chronic symptoms. The procedure was performed by Dr. Thomas Graham.
We anticipate a full recovery in approximately six-to-eight weeks.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) February 12, 2025
Pirates First Baseman Horwitz Out Following Right Wrist Surgery
Horwitz, 27, was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays, a favorite trade partner of Pirates general manager Ben Cherington, via the Cleveland Guardians in a three-team trade in December. The left-handed batter hit .264/.355/.428, 13 HR, and 47 RBI in 112 games for Toronto during 2023-24. The Jays used him at first base 41 times and second base 39 times. Horwitz was brought to Pittsburgh to serve as the primary first baseman. He doesn’t reach free agency until 2031 and thus is viewed as a long-term solution for a team lacking at the first base position.
Who’s on First?
“Aye, there’s the rub,” to quote the great William Shakespeare. With Horwitz out, the Pirates don’t have many attractive options to fill in as their first baseman. Visiting the first baseman aisle in the free agent and trade markets is a possibility, but that hasn’t been Cherington’s modus operandi to fill a short-term need. In any event, with spring training upon us, the free agent market has been picked over like a department store on Christmas Eve. One exception: Last year’s primary first baseman, Rowdy Tellez, is still without a baseball home.
However, that reunion is highly unlikely.
The farm system doesn’t seem to have a viable solution either. Last year at Triple-A Indianapolis, prospect Malcolm Nuñez and former major leaguers Jake Lamb and Seth Beer saw action at the first base bag. Lamb and Beer are now with other organizations, and in any event, might make a better dinner combination than a first-base combination. Nuñez will get a look in spring training. The Pirates acquired him from the St. Louis Cardinals in what seems like ages ago. But that was only 2022 and Nuñez turns just 24 years of age next month. That year, he hit 23 home runs in the minor leagues. Since then, however, he has suffered setbacks. Last year at Indy, he hit .250/.310/.365, 11 home runs, and 65 RBI. He strikes one as needing more minor-league seasoning.
Opportunity Knocks for Cook
Right-handed-hitting outfielder/infielder Billy Cook might be an option at first base. At Triple-A Norfolk in the Boston Red Sox system, Cook was one of the hottest hitters in the minors when Cherington picked him up at the trade deadline. He cooled off in Indianapolis but did enough to earn a call to the big time-in September. In 16 games with the Pirates, he was 11-for-49 with three home runs. According to Baseball Reference, that translates to 30 home runs on a 162-game average. That type of production will surely garner him a look at first base.
A Possible Position Switch?
Left-fielder Bryan Reynolds, the Pirates’ best player, worked out at first base late last season. Although he wasn’t used there in a game, he’s said to be amenable to the switch. If the Pirates go that route, Reynolds could be a temporary first baseman while Horwitz recovers. That would open up left field and give an unexpected opportunity to Ji-Hwan Bae, Joshua Palacios, DJ Stewart, and Jack Suwinski. Stewart is new to the Pirates organization. The other three failed to impress enough to hang onto regular jobs last year.
Of that group, the speedy Bae is the best defensive outfielder. If he can show the on-base skills he’s flashed in the minors, the Pirates may prefer him patrolling PNC Park’s vast left field. However, the guess here is that Suwinski would be given the longest look there. He led the Pirates with 26 home runs in 2023. In 2024, he regressed to the tune of .182/.264/.324, 9 HR, and 26 RBI. He doesn’t have strong grades defensively. For his career, he’s been charged with -14 Fielding Runs Above Average and -22 Defensive Runs Saved. Regardless, the Pirates thought highly enough of his defense to install him as their regular center fielder in 2023. They likely feel comfortable with him in left field.
Swiss-Army-knife players Adam Frazier and Jared Triolo have seen major-league action at first base as well. Frazier has also played left field in PNC Park.
The Last Word
An injury to their projected regular first baseman Horwitz is not how the Pirates wanted to start the season. But it happened, and their options are what you see above. So begins what should be an interesting spring training competition.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The post Pirates First Baseman to Miss Time Following Wrist Surgery appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.