Has the opportunity passed Matt Gorski by without actually arriving?
Slugging outfield yet to get his opportunity in the majors
Since being drafted, there have been few players with the raw skillset than outfielder Matt Gorski.
Drafted out of Indiana in the second round of the 2019 draft, Gorski will hit minor league free agency after this upcoming season, and he still awaits an opportunity to make his major league debut.
After wrapping up his third straight season of at least 20 home runs (he hit 17 in 2021), Gorski continues to establish himself as one of the better power hitters in the Pirates’ organization.
So, why is it that he hasn’t been able to break through and get a shot in the majors?
The easy answer is the swing and miss, as he has a 27.7% career strikeout rate in the minors, but it isn’t like all his value is tied to the bat.
He remains one of the better defenders in the outfield in the entire system, and has 88 career steals on 108 attempts. It’s not hard to find ways he can have value on a baseball field, even if the contact rates aren’t ideal.
At the trade deadline, the Pirates made a prospect only trade, swapping Patrick Reilly in exchange for Billy Cook of the Baltimore Orioles.
Cook, 25, has some intriguing raw power, has speed, and plays good defense in the outfield.
Sound familiar?
He made his major league debut after just 40 games in the minors (with the Pirates), and looks like he could factor into a roster spot of some sort.
What happens next with Gorski is interesting. The outfield has two of the three spots kind of set in stone, and they have some options also on the 40-man to round things out.
So, while maybe the opportunity isn’t there out of camp, the level of uncertainty in that last position could open a door at some point in the season.
As mentioned previously, Gorski is a minor league free agent after this upcoming season, and will be 27 by Opening Day 2025.
You get the feeling that Gorski has been passed over, especially with them bringing Cook, who has a similar tool set.
The swing has always felt a tad awkward, and could contribute to his swing and miss issues. It’s always felt weird that they haven’t tried to do anything with it to try and see if they can get to some more contact.
The tools has never been in question for Gorski, it’s always been a matter of him putting it together. Whether that opportunity ever comes with the Pirates, or at all, is remained to be seen.
This site is 100% reader-supported, with no revenue coming from ads. If you enjoy our work, consider becoming a paid member today.
You will not only help the site grow but also get access to our fantastic premium content, which includes our Top 25 rankings and full-player write-ups, video breakdowns, and any features that come from my on-site trips.
Bucs On Deck is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I see this rumor of sending Levi to the White Sox
Is there no longer a rule that prevents teams from trading drafted players until one year after they are drafted?
Could our hitting instructors at every level have missed something? Doubt it, but I was surprised he did not get a chance last year, but we felt the swing and miss from an MLB veteran CF was a better option to take. It is time to move on, and Cook and/or Jack Suwinski need to get the reps. With the hitting instructors going down the road and a new bunch coming in, Jack may find what he was missing last year - Still remember the mid-20's number of HR's in 2023 at the MLB level!