Tue Feb 18th, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates welcome Jewish baseball player Spencer Horwitz

Sahlen Field, Buffalo Bisons third baseman Rafael Lantigua heads to first base after hitting a sacrifice fly to center field. First baseman Spencer Horwitz scored the game's first run on the play, 2022. Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.Sahlen Field, Buffalo Bisons third baseman Rafael Lantigua heads to first base after hitting a sacrifice fly to center field. First baseman Spencer Horwitz scored the game's first run on the play, 2022. Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Born November 14, 1997, Spencer Horwitz is an American professional baseball first baseman and second baseman for Major League Baseball (MLB).

He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 24th round of the 2019 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2023. Additionally, Horwitz played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

On December 10, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced the signing of Horwitz following a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Born in Baltimore, Horwitz stood out at Radford University, a university with few representatives in the Major Leagues. In 2024, with the Blue Jays, he achieved 12 homeruns and cemented his place in the majors and now hopes to become the Pirates' starting first baseman in 2025.

The player has spoken about his Jewish origins, especially after his participation with the Israeli team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic: “Jews have always inspired me because of what they have overcome. I hope I can inspire others to do the same.”

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