Gorski's spring power surge may lead to Majors opportunity with Bucs

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates reached out to Matt Gorski during the offseason to tell the outfielder to be ready to play some first base during Spring Training.

What a call that would be if that’s what helps Gorski finally get over the hump and into the Majors.

First base is in flux at the moment for the Bucs as Spencer Horwitz is recovering from right wrist surgery, meaning there’s some playing time -- and perhaps a short-term job -- that wasn’t originally envisioned. Some of the early candidates have done well, but nobody is swinging a hotter bat right now than Gorski, who clubbed his third homer and drove in his ninth run of the spring in the Pirates’ 7-3 split-squad win over the Orioles on Wednesday afternoon at LECOM Park.

"It definitely builds confidence, and I think hitting is at least half confidence,” Gorski said. “Everybody that makes it to this level has ability and they have a good swing, but that confidence piece in the box is huge.”

Gorski, 27, was the Pirates’ Minor League Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year in 2022 and appeared to be on a pathway to the Majors, but he regressed in ‘23. Gorski posted impressive results with Triple-A Indianapolis in ‘24, including 23 homers and 15 steals, but he still didn’t get a call to the Majors.

Those offensive results stemmed from some mechanical changes in the second half of last year. Gorski moved his hands up and straightened out his stance to look down towards the pitcher more. That new plane of vision helped him get a better approach angle, and it’s translating early this spring.

“He looks like he's more in line,” manager Derek Shelton said. “He's more aggressive. He's in the zone. I think you can see the maturation of him as a player, and we're seeing it early in the spring [with] the contact he's making."

The Pirates need to pick a fourth outfielder this spring, and being able to play first base certainly wouldn’t hurt. Gorski has Minor League experience at the position, but he’s never played 150 innings at first base in a season. Part of his calling card as a player is his outfield defense, but team necessity could create opportunity.

Gorski has spent time working with Darick Hall -- a fellow non-roster invitee -- to help learn more about the intricacies of the position. Gorski appreciates it, and he has a skill that only No. 22 prospect Billy Cook can also offer on this team.

“I know during some of my meetings they asked if I would be comfortable moving from first base to center field, and I don't think a lot can really say that,” Gorski said. “I think that's a big tool that I can bring."

Camp notes

? No. 6 prospect Nick Yorke also could be in the mix at first base, getting the start in North Port as part of the Pirates’ 9-4 split-squad loss to the Braves.

Pittsburgh will give several players a look there, but don’t read too far into who is playing where, and when, quite yet.

“I would not look into who's starting, who's not starting, especially this early in the spring,” Shelton said. “Right now it's about getting at-bats. I mean even with Fraz [Adam Frazier] yesterday, I needed to get Fraz on the field coming off a rainout. In the middle, we're a little crowded, so I got him a start there. But I wouldn't look into starts there, it's just more [about] getting reps there."

? Bailey Falter is a man of many numbers. The 2025 season will be his third with the Pirates, and he will be donning his third number with the club. Last season, he switched from 44 to 26 so Rowdy Tellez could have his traditional number. This season, Falter is going from 26 to 6, giving up the old number to Frazier.

“I’m a big service-time guy,” Falter said. “Rowdy Tellez, last year with 44, and obviously, Frazier this year. The guy’s got nine years of service. It’s hard to tell that guy no. And [he's an] awesome dude, too. He’s been here in the past. It’s all good. Still got to talk to him about what we’re going to get [in return].”

Frazier is on record for being a fairly superstitious -- or at least a little stitious -- guy, so his old number is surely a good omen. And to Falter, a number is just a number, so he’s happy to drop from 26 to 6.

“I feel like I got the right body type for a single digit, for sure,” Falter joked.