Pirates' first base options with Spencer Horwitz out
Who steps up with Spencer Horwitz out?
With news that Spencer Horwitz would miss 6-8 weeks after wrist surgery, the Pirates will likely be without their projected first baseman going into the regular season.
That means the team must pivot and look for internal options to fill the void until Horwitz returns.
Here are some names in camp to watch who could potentially push for playing time at first base now that there is an opening.
40-man roster
Nick Yorke
Jared Triolo
Billy Cook
Enmanuel Valdez
The Pirates started experimenting with Nick Yorke all over the field last year after acquiring him in a trade. One of the positions he did not play was first base. It’d be something new for him, as he hasn’t played there in his pro career.
While he’s maybe improved his defensive stock a bit, it’s still the offense that will make him a major leaguer, so this will let him focus on that.
Jared Triolo has played 16 games at first base in the majors and won a Gold Glove in 2024 as a utility player. He and Yorke have more value when they can move around a bit more, but Triolo plays better defense.
In 125 games last year for the Pirates, Triolo hit .216/.296/.315 with nine home runs.
Acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, Billy Cook made his major league debut last year, hitting three home runs in 49 at-bats—while also striking out 19 times.
There’s a nice combination of power and speed there, but his biggest asset is his outfield defense. He has the speed to cover a lot of ground and a strong arm. Playing first isn’t something that is new to him; it was his third most-played position (by innings) while in the minors.
It wouldn’t be permanent, but like Triolo, you take some of the value out of his game by playing him at first base.
Enmanuel Valdez was acquired from the Boston Red Sox during the offseason and does have some playing time in the minors at first base. He had 28 home runs in 2022 but has just 22 since (in the minors).
He hits the ball fairly hard, giving him some power potential, and does have a .400 slugging in the majors (with a .235 average).
Non-roster players
Darick Hall
DJ Stewart
Malcom Nunez
Nick Solak
Matt Gorski
Darick Hall and DJ Stewart have had the most ‘success’ in the majors among this group. Hall hit 16 home runs and drove in 72 during the 2024 season with Philadelphia’s Triple-A team. He hit nine home runs in 142 plate appearances with the Phillies in 2022 but has never been able to build off that.
Stewart hit .244/.333/.506 with 11 home runs in 2023 with the Mets and then hit another 12 with the Orioles in 2021. He’s played just one game at first base in the majors, and another 21 in the minors. He was a name that Ben Cherington brought up the other day.
Malcom Nunez was acquired in the Jose Quintana trade and has mostly stalled in Triple-A in the last couple of years. He posted a 75 wRC+ and 11 home runs with Triple-A Indianapolis in 2024.
While it’s been a whole inning of professional experience at first, Nick Solak has shown a lot of defensive versatility over his career. His best major league season was 2021 with the Texas Rangers, hitting .242/.314/.362 with 11 home runs and an wRC+ of 88.
He hit .311/.406/.446 with nine home runs and 10 stolen bases in Triple-A last year.
Like Cook, Matt Gorski's value comes from the defense he can play, but he provides an interesting blend of power and speed while also being capable of playing first base.
The Pirates will have some options to fill the gap that Horwitz will leave to start the season. They seemed determined to fill this internally and have expressed the possibility of getting some players involved who do not have experience in the position.
Being their big offseason addition, it’s certainly a rough start to things, but injuries happen, and the Pirates will have their depth tested early.
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Not buying Henry Davis a 1B mitt is borderline malpractice at this point. They can't afford to give up on a #1 overall this quickly.
I want to see Yorke and Bart (maybe Davis) getting a look see at 1st. I like Cook there but I think his value is outfield defense and hopefully his short side platoon abilities. Valdez should get a look as well.