PIRATES

Every time Konnor Griffin stands in the on-deck circle observing a Spencer Horwitz at-bat, he watches in anticipation of following with an at-bat of his own. That’s just how much confidence Griffin has in Horwitz’s ability to get on base, whether there's two outs in an inning or not. 

“When he’s up, I expect him to be on because of the way he’s swinging it,” Griffin told me last week. “He works super hard at it. He’s in the cage so much and he’s really perfecting a swing that’s brought him a lot of success. It’s been cool to see him work and see it translate to the games.” 

But don’t just take Griffin’s word for it. The numbers suggest that Horwitz’s ability to get on base has benefitted a Pirates team that appears significantly deeper than in years past. 

Through 42 games this season, Horwitz is slashing .273/.383/.414 with a .797 OPS. Aside from his slugging percentage, the other three figures are higher at this point than his career averages. Additionally, Horwitz has collected seven doubles, a triple, three homers and 19 RBIs with 23 walks and 22 strikeouts. 

He's not a guy who possesses lightning quick bat speed or will consistently hit the ball hard. In fact, he ranks in the seventh percentile in average exit velocity (85.6 mph), the eighth percentile in hard-hit rate (27.8%) and the 11th percentile in bat speed (68.7 mph). However, he's in the 90th percentile in squared-up rate (32.1%) and has consistently shown an ability to have quality at-bats, ranking in the 88th percentile in strikeout rate (14.3%) and the 90th percentile in walk rate (14.9%). He's in the 92nd percentile in whiff rate (15.4%) and the 73rd percentile in chase rate (25.4%), displaying a well above average ability to avoid constant swing and miss, as well as an above average ability to avoid swinging at pitches out of the zone. 

“He’s super selective, but aggressive at the same time," Griffin said. "If he gets a pitch in his zone, he knows that zone really well and he’s going to get a good swing off. It’s been cool to see that.” 

Prior to being sent back to Class AAA Indianapolis following this weekend's series against the Phillies at PNC Park, Nick Yorke described Horwitz as "super underrated." He lauded him for his ability to affect games with his glove at first base and for the way in which he produces consistently good at-bats. 

“It’s pro," Yorke told me. "It seems like he’s very rarely not swinging at a strike. If he is swinging at a ball, it’s for a good reason based off of statistics on why this pitcher should be throwing this pitch there. He’s full send and full commit to it, so it’s impressive to watch. Every at-bat is pro and it seems like when he’s putting it in play, he’s splitting the gap for a double or extra-base hits. It’s been fun to watch.” 

Horwitz is now having success as a 1.1 WAR player, but that wasn’t the case to begin the season. After ranking as one of the team's better offensive contributors during a collective poor-performing season in 2025, Horwitz started 2026 on a rather lackluster note, slashing .217/.339/.304 with a .644 OPS and two extra-base hits in his first 17 games. 

Then something changed. Things seemed to click following a three-hit game, one in which he reached in all four plate appearances, against the Rays on April 17. In his 25 games since, Horwitz's slash line looks like this: .305/.408/.476. He has an .884 OPS during that span and has nine extra-base hits (six doubles, a triple and two homers) along with 16 RBIs. He's walked 15 times and struck out 11 times. 

In the eyes of Horwitz, it's all a result of the consistent work he's done to put himself in a good position to hit. It also stems from the preparation he's doing before every game and the scouting reports he's digesting before every ensuing matchup against opposing pitchers. 

“Spencer was arguably our best hitter last year and has continued that success," Don Kelly said. "I know maybe not the start that he wanted, but he’s been doing a great job of not just hitting, walking, getting on base, but playing really good defense at first base. Spence has been doing phenomenal.”

Some of Horwitz's success might get overlooked based on the fact that he's used in more of a platoon role considering the lack of success he's found in the past against left-handed pitchers. His defensive position factors into it, too, as he's not your prototypical power-hitting first baseman. 

But if one were to take his defensive position away from the conversation and view him as a prototypical No. 6 or 7 hitter, the two spots in the lineup that he's primarily occupied, then perhaps Horwitz is doing exactly what he needs to in order to provide value to the lineup. 

Last year, he was forced into being a top-of-the-order bat based on the lack of depth that existed within one of Major League Baseball's worst lineups. Now, Horwitz doesn't have to carry that weight on his shoulders. Instead, he can focus on being himself while serving as a piece of a puzzle that includes multiple players with lofty goals and expectations for the remainder of the 2026 season. 

“It helps us get better," Horwitz said when I approached him about being a part of a deeper lineup this season. "We get to learn from guys who have won at the highest level and have done things that Bryan (Reynolds), myself, Oneil (Cruz), we haven’t done. We haven’t played in the playoffs. (Ryan) O’Hearn, (Marcell) Ozuna, (Brandon) Lowe, they all have. It takes a special team to get to the postseason, and within that special team is a bunch of special players. It's fun to be a part of."