One of the Pirates' only MLB debuts this season came from former top prospect Matt Gorski. For years, fans wanted to see what the big slugger could do at the big-league level, and he finally got his chance earlier this season. As soon as he stepped up to the plate for the first time, Gorski belted a deep home run, but afterwards, things went downhill.
Gorski could not find a groove, constantly whiffing and striking out. He ran into a second homer, but was DFA'd around the time Spencer Horwitz came back. He went back down to the minor leagues and got hurt. Shortly after, Pittsburgh decided to release him, and quickly after becoming a free agent, Gorski has landed a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers grabbed the 27-year-old on a minor-league deal and he should report in Triple-A once he is healthy again. The injury he suffered has been unknown since he was initially placed on the minor-league injured list back on May 25.
Dodgers sign former Pirates fan favorite Matt Gorski to a minor-league deal.
Once he is healthy, it'll be very tough for him to find a spot on the big-league roster, with Freddie Freeman at first base and a loaded outfield. It's not like designated hitter will be any easier, either, with Shohei Ohtani leading the way. This signing was just a depth signing, as the Dodgers are expected to trade away some prospects at the MLB trade deadline. They could very well need more bodies in Triple-A if they go all in like some expect them to. They were recently linked to David Bednar and every other available closer, so they are very active on the market.
The Dodgers could fix Gorski into a decent major league hitter. He has the power, consistently hitting 20 homers in three of the last four minor league seasons. Swinging and missing has hurt him badly, though.
Fans were upset when he was initially sent down, and now he is completely out of the organization. He battled in the Pirates' minor leagues since 2019 and just never could figure things out. It's great for him that he gets a new opportunity with the Dodgers.