Former Toronto Blue Jays infielder making his mark after trade to Pittsburgh Pirates
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Former Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Spencer Horwitz is beginning to establish himself with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026.
Originally traded to Cleveland in December 2025 as part of the deal that brought Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays, and then quickly flipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Horwitz has maintained his strong offensive performance with his new club.
The 28-year-old started the 2025 season sidelined by a wrist injury but still managed to deliver a solid campaign, finishing with a .787 OPS and 11 home runs across 108 games.
He’s picked up right where he left off this season, giving Pittsburgh a reliable on-base presence toward the bottom of the lineup.
While early attention has largely focused on the hot starts from Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz, and Ryan O’Hearn, Horwitz has quietly been an important contributor to the Pirates’ 14–11 record in what has been a surprisingly competitive NL Central.
Through 22 games, Horwitz is hitting .258/.382/.387, good for a .769 OPS.
He’s recorded 16 hits in 62 at-bats, along with nine runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, and 12 walks compared to 13 strikeouts. His performance translates to a 120 wRC+.
I think Spencer Horwitz may have known this one was gone
One standout moment came on April 17 at PNC Park, when he collected three hits in a 5–1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
All three hits came against right-hander Nick Martinez, improving Horwitz to a perfect 10-for-10 against the pitcher in his career.
He also put together an impressive homestand recently, posting a .333/.478/.722 slash line over seven games.
Spencer Horwitz is now 3-3 tonight and 10-10 against Nick Martinez in his career. Martinez is going to see Horwitz in his nightmares at this point. 99.5 MPH exit velocity, .900 xBA.
Horwitz benefitting from a better Pirates lineup in 2026
During that stretch, he tallied six hits in 18 at-bats, scored four runs, added a double and two home runs, drove in three, and drew four walks while striking out just three times.
In 2025, Horwitz stood out as the Pirates’ only above-average offensive player. His 118 OPS+ led the team, with Bryan Reynolds next at 99.
This season, though, the lineup around him looks much stronger.
Offseason additions have made an impact, and both Reynolds and Oneil Cruz have shown noticeable improvement at the plate.
“I think it eases the pressure on a lot of guys,” Horwitz said of the improved lineup. “I went from hitting second, third, or fourth and now I’m hitting seventh. I don’t think that’s a knock on me, I think that’s a complement to the other guys we brought in because they’re doing it day in and day out … We have lots of depth.”
Regardless of his spot in the batting order, the Pirates will continue to rely on Horwitz to deliver steady production.
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