Pirates welcome Jewish player Spencer Horwitz to the team

Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle — There are few things the Jewish community likes more than an underdog story. We have, after all, recently celebrated a holiday that commemorates one of the biggest: the Maccabees defeating Antiochus and the Greek army.

The Pirates’ acquisition of Spencer Horwitz on December 10 should be welcomed with open arms as a result. He wasn’t taken until the 24th round of the 2019 Draft (today, the Draft only goes 20 rounds) out of Radford University, a school that has had a grand total of four players — including Horwitz — make it to the big leagues. He may arrive in Pittsburgh, via a trade the Pirates made with Toronto, as more of an established Major Leaguer who hit 12 home runs for the Blue Jays in 2024, but he’s had to prove himself at every stop, not making his Major League debut until he was 25 during the 2023 season and not getting a chance to play regularly until last year. He gets what it means to beat the odds, and has grown a deeper appreciation for how that ties into his Jewish roots lately.

“I guess it’s something I never appreciated until recently,” said Horwitz via a Zoom held with Pittsburgh media. “With what’s going on in the world, playing for Team Israel, that was an amazing experience that connected me with a lot of people. The Jewish people have always amazed me with what they’ve overcome and hopefully, I can inspire others to [do the same].”

Horwitz has a tattoo on his left arm that reads “Keep going,” and that’s exactly what he’s done to get to this point, where he hopes to get most of the at-bats as the Pirates’ first baseman in 2025. Growing up in the Baltimore area with a Jewish father, his parents separated when he was 12, so he wasn’t bar mitzvahed, but because of cousins, he attended plenty and he’s always felt comfortable expressing the pride he feels in being Jewish.

“I feel like that’s where I’m from,” he said. “That’s home.”

Judaism was less prevalent when he headed to Radford, in southwest Virginia, for college ball. He heard frequently from friends and teammates that he was the first Jewish person they ever met. It didn’t take long before those who follow Jews in baseball closely recognized him as a member of the tribe, especially as he kept hitting his way up the Blue Jays’ system. Horwitz hit .307 during his pro debut after being drafted, .294 with an OPS (on base+slugging) of .862 while reaching Double-A in 2021. After a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League that autumn, he kept showing a propensity to hit and get on base, reaching Triple-A — the highest level of the Minors — for the first time in 2022. He spent nearly all of the 2023 season with Triple-A Buffalo and had his best statistical season — a .337 average, .450 on-base percentage and .495 slugging — that led to his first call-up to the big leagues.

But before that, Horwitz got the chance to play for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. When he donned the blue-and-white at LoanDepot Park in Miami, that was the first time he played in a big league stadium, preparing him for the Major League debut to come later that season. By virtue of its win against Nicaragua, Israel qualifies for the tournament again in 2026 and Horwitz is all in to play again should the call come, noting he’s in a group chat with his Team Israel teammates that has continued from the ’23 Classic.

If there were any Jewish baseball fans who didn’t know about Horwitz before, they certainly were aware of him then. There was a noticeable uptick in bar mitzvah and Passover seder invitations after the World Baseball Classic and, while he’s not accepted any yet, he’s keeping his DMs open.

“I’ve gotten a few direct messages on Instagram; I’ve come close to taking them up [on the offer],” Horwitz said. “There’s nothing like a good home cooked meal and being with family. Maybe I will say yes [in the future].”

Seder appearances aside, Horwitz is looking forward to getting to work and proving to the Pirates faithful he can be a major contributor. There’s already some familiarity, having played with current Pirates Jared Triolo and Alika Williams in the Cape Cod League back in 2018 and, perhaps most importantly, having worked for years with new hitting coach Matt Hague, who worked in the Blue Jays organization for the entirety of Horwitz’s pro career. He’ll use that tattooed message as motivation.

“I’m definitely proud of where I’ve gotten to,” Horwitz said. “I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied. I have a lot more I want to accomplish in this game and hopefully, I can do that in the black and gold.” PJC

Jonathan Mayo is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.