Horwitz (wrist) has gone 4-for-28 with five strikeouts on his rehab assignment split between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis.
Horwitz has been on assignment since April 27 and has needed extensive ramp-up time after missing all of spring training. He still hasn't found a rhythm at the plate, though he has struck out at a reasonable 16.7 percent clip. The Pirates need offensive help, but they may opt to let Horwitz start to hit better before activating him.
Horwitz (wrist) will embark on a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on Sunday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Horwitz underwent surgery in February to repair an extensor tendon in his right thumb that was causing pain in his wrist, but he's finally ready for game action. Horwitz appeared in 97 games for the Blue Jays in 2024, slashing .265/.357/.433 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI in 381 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Ready for extended spring training
Rotowire
Horwitz (wrist) has been cleared for baseball activity and will participate in extended spring training, MLB.com reports.
This marks a significant step in Horwitz's recovery, though he'll still likely need plenty of ramp-up time after missing all of spring training. He should take over as Pittsburgh's primary first baseman once activated from the injured list.
Horwitz (wrist) is likely to head to the Pirates' complex in Florida to begin a rehab assignment in the near future, MLB.com reports.
Horwitz has been cleared for all baseball activity and has been taking batting practice for the last several days. He'll likely still require some time to get in a rhythm after missing all of spring training, meaning a return in early May could be realistic.
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Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Taking BP
Rotowire
Horwitz (wrist) has progressed to taking batting practice, throwing and fielding ground balls, MLB.com reports.
Horwitz has been swinging since early March, though his progression to batting practice is significant. He's still a few weeks away from a rehab assignment, which is projected to begin in late April or early May.
The Pirates placed Horwitz (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Horwitz had right wrist surgery in early February and was given a 6-to-8-week estimated recovery timetable. According to MLB.com, Horwitz has began a throwing progression and is taking swings with the bat, but he's still a few weeks away from game action. Horwitz is expected to serve as the Pirates' primary first baseman once healthy.
Horwitz (wrist) was cleared to begin hitting off a tee Sunday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The 27-year-old is about a month removed from undergoing surgery on his right wrist and continues ramping up his hitting program. Horwitz was given an initial recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks and appears likely to be sidelined for Opening Day, but he may not miss much of the regular season.
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Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Will hit off tee soon
Rotowire
Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Horwitz (wrist) is expected to progress to hitting off a tee by this weekend or early next week, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Horwitz is currently taking dry swings as he works his way back from right wrist surgery and will take another step forward in his progression soon. He will not be ready for Opening Day, but a return sometime in April is possible. Once healthy, Horwitz is projected to serve as the Pirates' primary first baseman.
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Ready for two-handed swings
Rotowire
Horwitz (wrist) will begin taking two-handed dry swings later this week, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Horwitz has been taking one-handed dry swings and is nearly ready to take the next step in his hitting progression as he works his way back from right wrist surgery. He's expected to miss roughly the first month of the season.
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Horwitz had sutures removed from his surgically repaired right wrist earlier this week and remains on track to return to game action in 6-to-8 weeks, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
After getting the sutures removed, Horwitz has been cleared to resume swinging the bat with his left hand in addition to fielding groundballs. Before getting surgery, Horwitz looked on track to open the season as the Pirates' everyday first baseman, but his likely absence to begin the campaign could pave the way for Jared Triolo or Billy Cook to make starts at the position until Horwitz is ready to go.
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Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Battling wrist injury
Rotowire
Horwitz will miss time during spring training due to a right wrist injury, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Horwitz was traded from Toronto to Cleveland and then Pittsburgh back in December and was expected to begin 2025 as the Pirates' primary first baseman. However, he suffered a wrist injury in the offseason that required surgery and has yet to shed his cast. There's no telling if the infielder's absence will extend into the regular season, but if he ends up beginning the season on the injured list, Jared Triolo would likely be the next man up to start at first.
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Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: On mend from hand surgery
Rotowire
Horwitz said Wednesday that the surgery he underwent last week was to repair the extensor tendon in his right thumb, John Perrotto of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports. He's expected to face a recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks.
The left-handed-hitting Horwitz's procedure was designed to address chronic symptoms with his wrist, but the surgery itself was actually performed on the thumb of his throwing hand. In any case, Horwitz's projected 6-to-8-week recovery timeline could keep him out of action for most or all of spring training and force him to open the season on the injured list. If Horwitz is shelved to begin the campaign, Pittsburgh could turn to Jared Triolo, Billy Cook or Bryan Reynolds to pick up starts at first base early on.
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