June 16, 2019: The Blue Jays signed 1B Spencer Horwitz after choosing him in the 24th round out of Radford University in Virginia. They signed him for $100,000, via scout Culson Barbiche.

2021 Season: Hitters are going to hit. And that describes Spencer Horwitz. Horwitz hit in Vancouver, he hit in New Hampshire, and he hit in the Arizona Fall League. But he is limited defensively. He's probably a major league first baseman, but he hasn't shown enough power to be a major league first baseman.

Horwitz was drafted in 2019 in the 24th round of the draft. He was one of the key players on the Bluefield side in 2019, hitting .330. After missing 2020 due to the pandemic, Horwitz was assigned to Vancouver to start 2021. Horwitz came out of the gate with the same form as he had in Bluefield, hitting .318 in May. But then he slumped hitting a little over .200 in June and July. But he found his stroke again in August.

He hit over .400 from August 8 through September 11 when he was promoted to New Hampshire. During the course of that hot streak Horwitz had a 28-game hitting streak, a record for the Northwest League. 

Horwitz told Laura Armstrong in The Star what changed. "He’d make small adjustments — lowering his hands a fraction, giving his bat a little more of a tilt — and get results: “It really freed me up and helped a lot.”" 

Horwitz got four games in New Hampshire to prepare him for 2022. He just hit .375 in those four games with two home runs. Hitting from the left side should help his prospects generally and help him hit some long balls in New Hampshire. 

As you would expect from a good hitter, Horwitz has an excellent eye at the plate, walking more than he struck out in 2021 (70 vs. 68). 

As mentioned at the start Horwitz fell short in the power department this season but there is a reason for optimism. Along with his improved hitting in the second half of the season, his power was better too. Nine of his 12 home runs came after August 12th.  (Gerry - Jan. 11, 2022)

March 5, 2022:  First baseman Spencer Horwitz didn’t get much attention as a 24th-round pick in 2019, but all he’s done as a pro is produce. At High-A Vancouver in ’21, Horwitz hit .291 with a .401 on-base percentage before starring in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .375.

The 24-year-old was third in line to face right-hander Trent Palmer on Field 1 at the Blue Jays’ complex, and after Palmer sat down the first pair with strikeouts, Horwitz sent an opposite-field shot over the left-field fence. There’s no sense reading much into one at-bat on March 5, but Horwitz’s power development is a key story to track in ’22.

The Blue Jays believe it’s in there, and if that power is paired with his exceptional control of the strike zone, Horwitz will start to climb prospect lists. Horwitz played mainly first base in ’21 with some left field mixed in, and that’s likely to continue. There’s an outside chance he could get some looks at second base, too, and he's likely to open the ’22 season at Double-A New Hampshire. (Blue Jays Pipeline - MLB.com March 5, 2022)

In 2022, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Spencer as the 15th-best prospect in the Blue Jays organization. Spencer was ranked #18 in early 2023 but was at #21 in early 2024

2022 Season: Horwitz put together another solid season in 2022 after breaking out in 2021. Spencer played 70 games with New Hampshire before his promotion to Buffalo on July 5. Last season with Vancouver, Horwitz walked 70 times versus 66 strikeouts. During his time with the Fisher Cats, Spencer drew 43 walks (15.3BB%) with 54 strikeouts (19.2K%). Horwitz slashed .297/.413/.517 while collecting 19 doubles, a triple, and 10 home runs for a .220ISO. His production was elite at .407wOBA and 155wRC+ with a .347BABIP.

Spencer’s best month with the Fisher Cats was June when he posted a 1.157OPS while batting .370 with 9 doubles, 5HR, 19BB, and 17K in 24GP. Horwitz played 44 games at 1st base and 10 games in LF. Horwitz is Rule 5 eligible, with a really good chance of being added to the 40-man roster or being selected by another organization. He should get a chance at playing in the Major League in 2023.  (Nov 14, 2022 - Ryan Mueller)

Spencer committed to play for Israel in the 2023 WBC.

Horwitz gave his first-homer ball to his big brother.

Twenty-two minutes prior to first pitch at Coors Field, Spencer was told he was in the lineup. Brandon Belt’s back was hurting, so it was the rookie’s turn.

Horwitz responded by launching his first MLB home run, a 442-foot moon shot to right field in a 7-5 win over the Rockies. It earned him a post-game beer shower from his teammates, but once Horwitz washed off the free drinks, his mind went to his brother Ben, who was in the stands.

Ben was with Spencer in Buffalo when he was called up and made the trip to Denver. Spencer was able to get the home run ball back after it fell into the Rockies’ bullpen, and he already has a plan for the souvenir from his biggest moment in baseball yet.

The ball belongs to his big brother.

“He’s my best friend,” Horwitz said. “I love him to death. He’s my BP thrower. He’s my everything. For him to be able to see my first homer is extremely special.”

“We grew up around baseball and grew up around sports,” Horwitz said. “He was more of a football player, for sure. He beat on me enough, and that’s where I get my competitive edge from.”  (Keegan Matheson - Sept. 3, 2023)

2023 Season: The Buffalo Bisons announced their 2023 season team awards with infielder Spencer Horwitz being named the Stan Barron Most Valuable Player for his record-breaking season at the plate. 

Spencer followed up his first Triple-A season in 2022 with a year that saw the 25-year-old rank among the best in the International League in a majority of the offensive categories. Horwitz’s .337 batting average is the 4th best in the league, while his .450 on-base percentage is the best in the IL and ranks second in all of Triple-A baseball. Horwitz’s on-base percentage shattered the Bisons' modern era single-season record by 26 points.

Overall, Horwitz had 132 hits in 107 games for the Herd, with 30 doubles, 10 home runs and 72 RBI before his promotion to the Blue Jays. He also drew more walks (78) than strikeouts (72) on the year, with a .945 OPS that ranked 2nd among all Bisons hitters. Horwitz hit .360 with runners in scoring position on the season, drove in six runs in a single game on April 30 in Gwinnett, and had 37 multi-hit performances.

In the field, Horwitz was voted as the IL’s best defensive infielder by league managers in a Baseball America poll.

Horwitz made his Major League debut earlier this season after being recalled by the Toronto Blue Jays on June 16. He recorded a base hit and an RBI in his first Big League game on June 18 against the Rangers.

Understanding “the work never stops” is one lesson Horwitz said he’s absorbed about playing pro baseball.

“You always think about, ‘I want to get to the big leagues, I want to get to the big leagues,’ and I got a taste of it last year,” he said. “I had that feeling again in Buffalo this year that, ‘I want to get back to the big leagues, I want to get back to the big leagues,’ but not much changes besides the third deck and the stuff’s a little harder and a little sharper.”

But as his manager indicated, Horwitz has looked far more comfortable during this stint with the Blue Jays. The second baseman said he owes that to feeling a little less overwhelmed by the major-league experience.

While he said he still feels awestruck sometimes when he enters an MLB stadium for the very first time — playing at Fenway Park with his family in attendance last month was particularly special, he said — when he steps into the batter’s box, he’s able to lock in and block out the noise and bright lights much better than he could last year.

“Once the game starts or I get into my routines, it kind of settles back down,” he said. “Last year, it didn’t settle down as much. I’d say this year, it’s just really leaning into my routines to bring that comfort level to me.” (McGrath - Jul 6, 2024 - The Athletic)

2024 Season: After annihilating minor league pitching to start the year, he finally got another chance in the big leagues this season. All it took was a longer look in the majors for everyone to fully appreciate what the talented hitter brings to the table.

Horwitz finished the year with a better wRC+ (127 to 119), wOBA (.344 to .336), batting average (.265 to .248), OBP (.357 to .335) and OPS (.790 to .775).  (Michael Fisher - Oct. 17, 2024)

TRANSACTIONS

Dec. 10, 2024: The Guardians traded Gold Glove second basemen Andres Giménez and right-hander Nick Sandlin to the Blue Jays in exchange for first baseman/second baseman Spencer Horwitz and Minor League outfielder Nick Mitchell during the Winter Meetings. A few hours later, Horwitz was flipped to the Pirates in exchange for left-hander Josh Hartle, Pittsburgh's No. 17 prospect, right-hander Luis Ortiz and Minor League left-hander Michael Kennedy. 

TRADE DETAILS:  Guardians get: OF Nick Mitchell, LHP Josh Hartle, RHP Luis Ortiz, LHP Michael Kennedy.
Blue Jays get: 2B Andrés Giménez, RHP Nick Sandlin.
Pirates get: INF Spencer Horwitz.

Horwitz is a classic bat-first prospect, with major league-caliber hitting skills but a lack of defensive value. He is an above-average contact hitter with advanced approach and on-base skills. He has good adjustability in his barrel and hits a variety of pitch types. Horwitz possesses average raw power, but his lack of elevation on contact limits his home run production. (Geoff Pontes - BA Prospect Handbook - Spring 2024)

Following the lost 2020 Minor League season, Horwitz spent most of 2021 at High-A Vancouver before earning a taste of Double-A, batting .294 with 12 home runs and an .862 OPS over 110 games. That included more walks (70) than strikeouts (68). Then Horwitz starred in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .375 over 16 games. In 2022, Horwitz split 114 games between Double-A and Triple-A, batting .275 with a .391 OBP. He has one of the best plate approaches and abilities to control the strike zone in the organization. (MLB Prospect Pipeline - Spring 2023)

A bat-first prospect with some of the most well-rounded plate skills in the Blue Jays system, Spencer flashes a strong lefthanded swing that allows him to make hard contact at a high rate. His bat-to-ball skills are average, but his plate discipline is elite, as he rarely expands the zone, and works deep into at-bats. While his swing isn’t naturally geared for power, he’s added loft over the last few seasons which has allowed him to get to more of his above-average raw power. Horwitz is a culmination of good hitter traits that allow his profile to work. (Geoff Pontes - BA Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2023)

An above-average plate approach allowed Horwitz to walk (70) more than he struck out (68) in ’21, and that’s where everything starts for him. With good control of the zone, Horwitz works his walks and hits for average, but unlocking more power will be the next step, especially for a prospect splitting time between first base and left field. Horwitz answered that bell by slugging .517 and posting a .930 OPS in 70 games at Double-A New Hampshire to open 2022 — production that carried him to Triple-A. Without adding surplus value as a defender or runner, Horwitz’s value will be tied closely to his bat, so he'll need to keep the power coming. (Spring 2022)

Spencer had a bat waggle that didn’t allow him to get into a consistently good hitting position, with his hands often getting out away from his body when he started his swing.

By midseason, 2021, Horwitz held his hands tighter to his body before starting his swing. The result was a quicker stroke that allowed him to drive the ball harder and with loft to his pull  side. His average exit velocities jumped, and he went from a peak exit velo of 106 mph before the change to reaching 110 mph after. (Ben Badler - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2022)

Spencer was a hot-hitting, below-average first baseman at the beginning of the 2024 season in need of a pathway to Toronto. Triple-A Buffalo manager Casey Candaele came up with one.

“Casey mentioned it a few times, like, ‘I really like you at second base, and I want to see it more.’ And I said, ‘OK,’” recalled the 26-year-old Horwitz. “So we did some early work, just gradually more and more. And we’re going to try to stick with a little bit.”

Stick with it they did. Horwitz earned a June 7 callup to the big leagues, where he batted .314/.435/.486 through his first 23 games, 17 of them at second base. The switch to the keystone provided some otherwise unavailable runway to Horwitz, a 24th-round pick out of Radford in 2019.

And to his credit, he did not look like someone who had appeared in just 17 pro games at second base. 

“Am I getting more comfortable at second base? Yeah. But am I a Gold Glove second baseman yet? Probably not,” he said. “It goes back to that hard work I’ve just got to keep on doing.”

Horwitz was making the most of his opportunity.

“I’ve learned that the work’s never going to stop,” he said. “You always think about, ‘I want to get to the big leagues,’ and I got a taste of it last year. I had that feeling again in Buffalo this year.  (Shi Davidi - Baseball America - Aug. 2024)

Horwitz was a below-average at first base with limited speed and mobility -- only a 40 grade, but a 50 grade arm. The Blue Jays gave him more exposure to left field in the 2021 Arizona Fall League, but his offensive game will have to carry him.

Horwitz is a 30-grade runner who is station-to-station on the bases. He’s below-average at first base and has an average arm. (Geoff Pontes - BA Prospect Handbook - Spring 2024)

That hitting tool and plate approach will need to carry Horwitz, who is solid at first base but may not move well enough to play the outfield in the big leagues. Horwitz offers a very mature at-bat at 25, though, and should adapt quickly to Major League pitching if injuries open up an opportunity for him at some point in 2023. He profiles as a player who will continue to play up to the level he’s assigned to. (MLB Prospect Pipeline - Spring 2023)

First base remains the primary position for Horwitz, but he’ll continue to experiment with the corner outfield. He’s earned plenty of fans within the organization with his plate approach and overall offensive improvements. (Spring 2022)