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Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 5: Spencer Horwitz

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Brennan Delaney | Last updated 2/26/24

Today’s prospect could impact the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024.

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual pre-season list, in which I’ll take a look at the top 50 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at Spencer Horwitz.

Getting to know Spencer Horwitz…

Position: First base/left field

Bats: Left

Born: November 14, 1997

Acquired: 24th-round, 2019 draft (Blue Jays)

2023 Team: Toronto Blue Jays

Previous Ranking: 6

Whatever level Horwitz is at, he’s hit. He started in rookie ball in 2019 after being drafted, slashing .330/.395/.471 with three homers in 233 plate appearances, along with a 9.9 BB% and a 10.3 K%. He also had 44 plate appearances in Short-A that season, posting a 47 wRC+, by far the lowest in his career.

Horwitz started his 2021 season with the Vancouver Canadians in High-A, slashing .290/.401/.445 with 10 homers in 469 plate appearances, along with a higher BB% (14.9%) than K% (14.1%). On top of that, Horwitz also set a Northwest League record with a 28-game hit streak, leading to a late season promotion to Double-A where he hit two homers in 16 plate appearances.

The first baseman started his 2022 season in Double-A, where he slashed .297/.413/.517 with 10 homers in 281 plate appearances, along with a 15.3 BB% and a 19.2 K% for a 154 wRC+. He earned a mid-season call up to Triple-A, where he slashed .246/.361/.363 with two homers in 202 plate appearances, but dealt with injuries during his tenure.

Spencer Enters

There's the FIRST Big League blast for Horwitz! pic.twitter.com/MZftmjBk9s

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 3, 2023

Never fear, as Horwitz started his 2023 season on the 40-man roster and repeated the Triple-A level. This time, he slashed .337/.450/.495 with 10 homers in 484 plate appearances, and once again had a higher BB% (16.1%) than K% (14.9%) for a 144 wRC+. Horwitz was called up to the Blue Jays twice, and slashed .256/341/.385 with a homer in 44 plate appearances.

As for where Horwitz ranks, Fangraphs has him as the Blue Jays 18th-best prospect, TSN’s Scott Mitchell has him as Toronto’s 15th-best prospect, while Baseball America has him as their 22nd-best prospect.

Horwitz is a bat first prospect, with a patient approach and good contact rates. However, Fangraphs notes that he’ll whiff on high fastballs and breaking balls down and out of the zone on occasion. The hit tool is his best tool, but he’s lacking in power and his defensive home is in question, as he’s a subpar defender in the outfield and average at best at first base.

Time will tell if he can hit for more power or become an average outfield defender, but he may be saddled to the bench or even in a platoon role on a contender if he can’t.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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