Spencer Horwitz

Spencer Elliott Horwitz (born November 14, 1997) is an American professional baseball first baseman and second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays selected him in the 24th round of the 2019 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2023. Horwitz played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Early life and high school Horwitz is the son of David and Laura Horwitz, and has a brother, Ben. He was born in Timonium, Maryland. He is Jewish.

Horwitz played both baseball and hockey at St. Paul's School for Boys in Brooklandville, Maryland. In baseball, Horwitz was a 2016 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) First Team selection, and twice MIAA All-Conference as a catcher. In hockey he played as a defenseman, and led the high school to two state championships.

College Horwitz played college baseball at Radford University, primarily at first base.

In 2018, Horwitz batted .288/.386/.443 in 219 at bats, had 43 runs batted in (RBIs) (7th in the conference), and was again named Big South Conference Second Team. In 2019 he batted .268/.392/.465 with 10 home runs and a league-leading 49 walks alongside 29 strikeouts; he was named Big South Conference Honorable Mention.

Professional career Toronto Blue Jays 2019–22 The Toronto Blue Jays selected Horwitz in the 24th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He signed for a $100,000 signing bonus. He batted a combined .307/.368/.440 with 4 home runs and 52 RBIs. Horwitz did not play in 2020 due to the Minor League Baseball season being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Horwitz returned in 2021 to play for the now High–A Vancouver Canadians and for the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He batted a combined .294/.400/.462 with 12 home runs and 66 RBIs, with more walks (70) than strikeouts (66), while leading the High-A West in doubles (28; tied) and walks (70) in 389 at bats.

After the season, Horwitz played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .375/.460/.484 in 64 at bats.He was named an Arizona Fall League Rising Star.

Horwitz started 2022 with New Hampshire, and was named Eastern League Player of the Week on June 13. He was promoted to the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons following a strong start to the season. Baseball America named him the Jays’ #14 prospect.

Following a hot start in Triple-A, Horwitz was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on June 16, 2023. On June 18, 2023, he made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays, and collected his first MLB hit off of Texas Rangers pitcher Jon Gray. He hit his first major-league home run (a solo shot) in a 7-5 win against the Colorado Rockies on September 3, 2023. In 39 at bats for the Blue Jays, he hit .256/.341/.385. He was voted Bisons' 2023 team MVP and the International League's top defensive infielder in a Baseball America poll.

2024

In January 2024, MLB Pipeline ranked Horwitz #9 on its Top 10 1B Prospects list. He was optioned to Triple–A Buffalo to begin the 2024 season, where he batted .335 (5th in the league))/.456 (3rd in the league)/.514 in 212 at bats, with more walks (44) than strikeouts (41). Horwitz was called up to the Blue Jays on June 6, 2024, after the club designated Cavan Biggio for assignment.

In 2024 for the Blue Jays, he batted .265/.357/.433 with 46 runs, 12 home runs, and 40 RBIs in 328 at bats.

Pittsburgh Pirates 2025 season On December 10, 2024, Horwitz, alongside Nick Mitchell, was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin. On the same day, Horwitz was then traded by the Guardians to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Luis Ortiz, Michael Kennedy, and Josh Hartle.

He missed spring training and the first 45 games of the 2025 season following a thumb surgery to relieve right wrist pain. On July 23, 2025, Horwitz hit his first career grand slam off of Troy Melton of the Detroit Tigers. In 2025 he batted .272/.353/.434 in 364 at bats with 26 doubles, 11 home runs, 55 runs, and 51 RBIs.

2026 season On June 25, 2026, Horwitz was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. At the time he was batting .280/.386/.455 with 10 home runs in 246 at bats.

International career Horwitz played for the Israel national baseball team roster in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He played left field for Team Israel manager and former All-Star Ian Kinsler, and alongside All-Star outfielder Joc Pederson and starting pitcher Dean Kremer, among others.