Spencer Horwitz Stays Perfect Against Rays’ Nick Martinez, Continues Hot Streak for Pirates

“It’s kind of just settling in. What are we, 20 games in? This year was my first Opening Day and I was so jacked up for that and so jacked up for this season that I think I was trying to do too much,” he explained. “Then it’s just gradually as the season’s started to progress, I’ve settled into myself.”

Horwitz was hitting just .111 with a .311 through a small sample of six games to begin the season. But in 12 games since, the 28-year-old is batting .355 with two doubles, a home run and more walks (seven) than strikeouts (four).

“Yeah, it’s great,” Horwitz said of his recent performance. “Great for me, great for the team. Just keep going. That’s what it’s been for me my whole career. It’s ebbs and flows, but trust the work is gonna work and today it showed up.”

Last year, Horwitz was the only player on the Pirates who was better than league-average. In his first year with Pittsburgh, Horwitz’s 118 OPS+ was tops on the roster. Bryan Reynolds was second with a 99 OPS+.

This year, however, the lineup around Horwitz is much improved. The Pirates offense has gotten off to a hot start with a couple offseason additions performing well and improved showings from Reynolds and Oneil Cruz.

“I think it eases the pressure on a lot of guys,” Horwitz said of the improved lineup. “I went from hitting second, third, or fourth and now I’m hitting seventh. I don’t think that’s a knock on me, I think that’s a complement to  the other guys we brought in because they’re doing it day in and day out … We have lots of depth.”

No matter where he’s hitting in this year’s lineup, the Pirates will be counting on continued production from Horwitz — even if he doesn’t get to face Martinez again.

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