The Guardians traded Horwitz to the Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Just hours after being traded to Cleveland in the deal that sent Andres Gimenez to Toronto, Horwitz will now land in Pittsburgh instead while the Guardians add to their organizational depth. The 27-year-old has covered first and second base during his time in the big leagues and should have no problem starting regularly in a Pirates infield that lacks impact bats. Moving to Pittsburgh will also reunite him with hitting coach Matt Hague, under whom Horwitz posted a .790 OPS in 2024.
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Guardians' Spencer Horwitz: Traded to Guardians
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The Blue Jays traded Horwitz and Nick Mitchell to the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for Andres Gimenez and Nick Sandlin, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
In 97 games with the Blue Jays last year, Horwitz slashed .265/.357/.433 while mashing 12 homers and driving in 40 RBI. With second base now open in Cleveland following Gimenez's move to Toronto, Horwitz's clearest path to playing time is likely at the keystone, though he could also be used at first base and DH over the course of the season.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Getting night off
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Horwitz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Horwitz's streak of 11 consecutive starts will come to an end while he heads to the bench for the first time since Sept. 11. He'll cede his spot in the lineup to Tyler Heineman, who will handle catching duties while top backstop Alejandro Kirk gets a day off behind the plate but sticks in the starting nine as the Blue Jays' designated hitter.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Power surge continues Sunday
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Horwitz went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer in Sunday's extra-innings loss to Atlanta.
Horwitz didn't get the start Sunday with lefty Chris Sale on the mound for the home side, but he pinch hit for Leo Jimenez in the eighth inning and launched a go-ahead homer off Joe Jimenez, only for Atlanta to tie it up in the bottom of the ninth and walk it off in the 11th. Horwitz was viewed as a hit-over-power prospect in the minors, but he's changing that perception in his first extended look at big-league pitching. The 26-year-old has gone yard three times in the last two games, and through 311 MLB plate appearances in 2024 he's slashing .274/.360/.467 with 12 homers and 34 RBI.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Homers twice, plates three in win
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Horwitz went 4-for-5 with a double, two homers, three RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's win over Atlanta.
Horwitz was a problem for Atlanta all night, smacking a leadoff homer in the second to put Toronto on the board, along with a second leadoff shot in the fourth to kick off a three-run inning for the Blue Jays. The infielder didn't stop there, however, adding an RBI double and a single in the contest to give him his first four-hit performance of the campaign. Horwitz has now tallied multiple hits in three of his last six starts, batting .423 (11-for-26) with three homers, six RBI and six runs scored over that stretch. He's also hit safely in each of his last three starts.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Sitting against Fried
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Horwitz is not in Friday's lineup against Atlanta.
Horwitz has been playing pretty regularly at first base and designated hitter, but he'll head to the bench for the second time in as many games with the Jays facing back-to-back southpaws. Nathan Lukes enters the lineup in right field with George Springer starting at DH.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Goes deep as part of three-hit game
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Horwitz went 3-for-5 with a home run, a walk, two total runs and three total RBI against the Twins in Saturday's 15-0 victory.
Horwitz was a key part of a massive 23-hit performance by Toronto's offense. He started at third base and hit a two-run homer in the first inning along with a run-scoring single in the third. Prior to Saturday, Horwitz had just one RBI over his previous nine games.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: On bench for second game of day
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Horwitz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.
Horwitz will get a breather after he played seven innings earlier in the day in the Blue Jays' 4-1 win in the resumption of a game that had been suspended June 26 in the second inning. With Horwitz on the bench for the nightcap, Vladimir Guerrero will start at first base and George Springer will serve as Toronto's designated hitter.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: On base four times in loss
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Horwitz went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 11-7 loss to the Reds.
The 26-year-old slugged a two-run homer off Nick Martinez in the first inning, giving Horwitz his second long ball in as many games and his eighth of the year in 63 big-league contests. The multi-hit performance was his first since Aug. 9 though, and he's had trouble providing consistency to the Toronto lineup. Through 18 games in August, Horwitz is slashing .238/.338/.476 with three doubles, four home runs, nine RBI and 13 runs.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Belts seventh homer
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Horwitz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Reds.
The Blue Jays launched five homers off Carson Spiers in the first five innings Tuesday, with Horwitz's blast being his seventh of the season. The 26-year-old has maintained an everyday role for Toronto while bouncing between first base, DH and occasionally second base, but Horwitz is slashing just .217/.304/.400 through 17 games in August with three homers, seven RBI and 11 runs.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Smacks homer in win
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Horwitz went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Angels.
Horwitz is 10-for-39 (.256) with six RBI and four extra-base hits over 11 contests in August. His homer Tuesday stretched Toronto's lead to 5-0 in the third inning. Horwitz is up to a .272/.363/.424 slash line with six homers, 22 RBI, 28 runs scored and 11 doubles over 223 plate appearances. He continues to see regular playing time between first base, second base and designated hitter.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Idle vs lefty
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Horwitz isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Tuesday versus the Giants.
Horwitz will be on the bench Tuesday with lefty Blake Snell pitching for San Francisco. Leo Jimenez has the start at second base and is batting ninth.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Three more hits Sunday
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Horwitz went 3-for-5 in Sunday's extra-inning win over the Mariners.
It's the second time in the last four games Horwitz has banged out three hits. The 26-year-old has been an on-base machine since joining the Blue Jays roster a month ago, slashing .329/.454/.481 with more walks (14) than strikeouts (13) in 97 plate appearance, and he's quickly become a fixture near the top of the batting order against right-handed pitching.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Three hits in Thursday's loss
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Horwitz went 3-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's loss to the Astros.
Batting fifth as a late addition to the lineup when Bo Bichette (forearm) was scratched, Horwitz banged out all three of his singles against same-handed pitchers, getting knocks off southpaw Framber Valdez in the first and fourth innings before leading off the ninth with a hit off Josh Hader. Horwitz has been impressive at the plate since his promotion, slashing .314/.435/.486 through 85 plate appearances with three doubles, three homers, nine RBI and 11 runs.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: On bench against lefty
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Horwitz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.
Hortwitz will head to the bench Thursday with lefty Framber Valdez on the mound for Houston. Leo Jimenez will man second base and bat eighth in the series finale.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Sitting Thursday versus lefty
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Horwitz isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for Thursday's game versus the Yankees.
With left-hander Carlos Rodon on the mound for New York, the lefty-hitting Horwitz will begin Thursday's contest on the bench. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will shift to second base as a result, allowing Ernie Clement to start at third while batting ninth.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: On bench Friday
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Horwitz is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Guardians.
Horwitz will yield to Isiah Kiner-Falefa at the keystone Friday with southpaw Logan Allen on the mound for Cleveland. Horwitz had started at second base in five consecutive games since being called up June 7, but each of those contests featured a right-hander on the mound for the opposition.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Two hits including double Monday
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Horwitz went 2-for-4 with a double in Monday's loss to the Brewers.
The Blue Jays only managed four hits in total on the night, but the rookie did what he could to spark some offense. Horwitz has been as advertised since his promotion, going 3-for-10 with two walks while starting three straight games at second base and batting either first or second. The 26-year-old won't supply a lot of power, but his on-base skills should lead to production if the hitters behind him can get going.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Making season debut Saturday
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Horwitz is starting at second base and batting second for Saturday's game against Oakland.
Horwitz was recalled by Toronto on Friday and is now set to make his first big-league appearance of 2024. He was slashing .335/.456/514 with four home runs, 38 RBI and 44 walks over 259 plate appearances in Triple-A before his promotion. Horwitz appeared in 15 games for the big club in 2023, slashing .256/.341/.385 with one home run and seven RBI over 44 plate appearances. The 26-year-old will face off against Athletics right-hander Luis Medina on Saturday.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Recalled by Toronto
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The Blue Jays recalled Horwitz from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
Since May 1, Horwitz is slashing .336/.435/.552 with three home runs, 23 RBI and 19 walks at Triple-A. He's played mostly at second base as of late, but the 26-year old has the versatility to also fill in at first base or the corner outfield. Toronto designated Cavan Biggio for assignment in a corresponding move.
