Pirates Injury Update: Spencer Horwitz, Dauri Moreta one step closer to MLB return

Feb 12, 2025; Bradenton, FL, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dauri Moreta (36) during spring training workouts at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Feb 12, 2025; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dauri Moreta (36) during spring training workouts at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates got some positive injury news on Tuesday as first baseman Spencer Horwitz and right-handed pitcher Dauri Moreta were transferred to Triple-A Indianapolis for the final step of their rehab assignments.

Horwitz, who has yet to appear in a game for the Pirates since they traded for him in December, underwent offseason wrist surgery that sidelined him for the entirety of spring training and the first month of the 2025 season.

Moreta missed all of the 2024 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. In 2023, he was 5-2 with a 3.72 ERA over 55 relief outings in which he struck out 76 with 24 walks. His last major league appearance for the Pirates came on Oct. 1, 2023, when he struck out all three batters he faced to earn the win over the Miami Marlins in the Pirates' season finale.

Pirates Injury Update: Spencer Horwitz, Dauri Moreta one step closer to MLB return

The Pirates added Horwitz in an offseason trade with the Cleveland Guardians, who flipped him to Pittsburgh immediately after acquiring him from the Toronto Blue Jays. Horwitz played in 97 games, for Toronto in 2024, slashing .265/.357/.433 with 12 home runs, 40 RBI, 42 walks and 70 strikeouts in 2024.

Horwitz was meant to be the answer to the Pirates' seemingly never-ending first base problem, as evidenced by the fact that they have had four different players start at first base in his absence – Enmanuel Valdez, Endy Rodríguez, Jared Triolo and Matt Gorski.

Horwitz started his rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on April 27 and slashed just .125/.222/.188. with two hits and two walks through 16 at-bats in five games. Moreta began his ramp up with Single-A Bradenton on April 29 and made two appearances (one start) with the club, allowing zero runs over two innings with a strikeout and two hits allowed.

Both Horwitz and Moreta were active for Indianapolis on Tuesday in a 4-1 win over Columbus. Horwitz started at first base and went 2-for-4 with a double, a single and a run, while Moreta pitched a scoreless inning of relief with three strikeouts and a walk.

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