February 12: Pirates announced (Hiles delivery), Hovetz’s surgery was to solve “chronic symptoms”. Horwitz’s expected recovery schedule is six to eight weeks, confirming that Horwitz will miss at least some time to start the season.
February 11: Pirates First Baseman Spencer Horwitz Andrew Destin and Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post reported missing spring training due to wrist injuries. Although the specific details about the injury are not yet known, Destin and Hills wrote that Hovetz had surgery at some point and remained in the cast.
As the camp began, the beginning of the Bucs was a shocking start. Pittsburgh acquired 27-year-old Hovetz at the winter meeting, which amounted to a three-team trade involving the Blue Jays and Guardians. They sent backend starters Luis Ortiz There is also a pair of pitching prospects for Cleveland, for Horwitz Andrés Giménez trade.
There is no timeline for injury, he may still be offered on the opening day. However, this is obviously not the ideal start for his Bucs tenure. Horwitz is a favorite that can be the first base job once healthy. The Pirates bet on his minor league numbers and relatively small sample production in the major leagues. Last year, Horwitz’s appearance was on the 381 MLB board appearance, an impressive .265/.357/.433. He connected 12 home runs while showing a strong sense of strike zone. The left-handed batsman walked with 11% of the clip and hit only 18.4% of the time.
Throughout his career, board discipline has been Hovetz’s phone card. He released a great minor league number that included a portion of three three seasons, including the .316/.433/.471 slash. The statistical profile is very strong, but most scout reports are less optimistic about Hovetz’s Bats and have long been against major league pitching. He is a mid-level defender, best suited for first base despite registering nearly 300 innings at Toronto’s second base last season. If the bat is average or better conventional pressure on first base, then the bat is under great pressure. Hovetz does not have huge primitive power. Last year, 16 combined home runs between Triple-A and MLB represented the highest level of their careers.
Pittsburgh had very little offense last season. Their first baseman hit .230/.295/.380, landing at the bottom third of the Major League Baseball in these three categories. That’s almost entirely Rowdy Tellez/Connor Joe Row. Bucs splits ways with two players. Apart from Hovetz, they have no noteworthy additions there.
Hovetz should start the season on the injury roster, 26 Billy Cook Probably an internal option. He played .224 with 19 strikeouts and zero walks in his first 16 major league games later last season. The right hit chef released a solid .275/.375/.474 in the upper minor between the Baltimore and Pittsburgh system. Baseball America’s prospect of 12th in the Bucs system this winter, writes of his decent strength and athleticism but fears his purely batting ability.
The pirates have planned to get Bryan Reynolds Working at first base this spring. It may now add urgency, although Bucs is unlikely to bring him to that position every day. Last season, Pittsburgh had almost nothing. They have agreed Tommy Pham In a 4mm deal, the flooring could be raised on the position, but if Reynolds moved to first base, the outfield would once again be a major issue.
There are still some unsigned first basemen. Justin Turner and Anthony Rizzo It seems that the deals in the major leagues are secured. Mark Kaha You may also get an MLB contract, and Yuli Gurriel and José Abreu It is a potential minor league choice. Whether the Bucs hopes Horwitz misses time in the regular season may affect their decision to be the veteran who may at least sign a minor league contract. Former Philadelphia First Baseman Darick Hall Will be invited as a non-garrison at the camp. Tomorrow is the report day for pitchers and catchers, so the team may provide the latest news about Horwitz’s injury in the coming days.
