On June 18, Timonium native Spencer Horwitz made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays against the Texas Rangers.
Although the Blue Jays ultimately lost, 11-7, to the American League West leaders, Horwitz’s first big league experience was one to remember. He recorded a hit in his first major league at-bat and later added an RBI to give Toronto its biggest lead of the game. He even showed his plate discipline, as evidenced by his two walks on the day.
Horwitz says the dream of making his big league debut didn’t compare to the reality.
“The dream didn’t do it any justice. It was everything I dreamed of times 10,” Horwitz said on Glenn Clark Radio June 26. “It was the atmosphere, being there with my family, all the emotions, it was unbelievable.”
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound first baseman was called up on June 16 but didn’t appear in the first two games of the Blue Jays’ three-game series against the Rangers. Horwitz had some nerves, which really began to set in when he found out he was starting in the Sunday finale. Then came the anticipation of stepping into a big league batter’s box for the first time.
Horwitz swung at the second pitch he saw, a four-seam fastball from veteran right-hander Jon Gray, and cracked it into right field for his first career hit. Horwitz gave the ball to his brother.
“I was on deck, and I could see my family in the stands, and I just looked around at the stadium and took a moment. The Texas stadium is ginormous, and I was like, ‘Holy, like this is unbelievable,'” Horwitz said. “I’m standing on deck and then after that first pitch of the batter in front of me, I locked back in to get ready for my at-bat.”
Horwitz attended St. Paul’s School for Boys in Brooklandville and grew up attending baseball games at Camden Yards. He idolized many of the great baseball players who played for the Orioles.
“I grew up going to Camden Yards and I grew up watching Manny [Machado] and J.J. [Hardy] and all those guys, [Jonathan] Schoop, Miguel Tejada,” Horwitz said. “I was going to Camden Yards for years and I love that ballpark so much.”
Horwitz played college ball at Radford University for three years, racking up two second-team All-Big South Conference nods and a Freshman All-American selection in 2017. He was then drafted by the Blue Jays in the 24th round (717th overall) of the 2019 MLB Draft.
Horwitz began his minor-league career in rookie ball in 2019 and navigated his way to Triple-A Buffalo by 2022. He ran it back with the Bisons in 2023 and is slashing .298/.420/.388 with 72 hits and 37 RBIs entering play on July 6.
Horwitz, who is Jewish, competed in the World Baseball Classic for Team Israel prior to the 2023 season. He regarded this experience as an important one in helping him make the jump to the highest level, despite initially being on the fence about missing time in his first major league spring training.
“This was a different level when I’m playing against the Dominican, and playing against Puerto Rico, and playing against Venezuela and how they all have multiple All-Stars on each roster,” Horwitz said. “… That was my first time playing in a big league stadium, and that was playing in front of 40, 50 thousand people of passionate, screaming fans the entire time. That definitely prepared me well. When I got to Arlington it was less intimidating playing in front of that big of a crowd, for sure.”
Horwitz credits the Team Israel staff for preparing him for the big leagues. The team’s general manager, Peter Kurz, was the former president of the Israel Association of Baseball. Israel also featured manager Ian Kinsler, hitting coach Kevin Youkilis and bench coach Brad Ausmus, all of whom were MLB All-Stars.
Horwitz was sent back down to Triple-A after appearing in three major league games with the Blue Jays. The first baseman batted .250/.400/.250 with two hits and walks and an RBI in his limited action. However, Horwitz is hoping to be with the Blue Jays when they travel to his hometown of Baltimore for a three-game series beginning Aug. 22.
Horwitz’s mentality hasn’t changed throughout the process. He always reminds himself to keep pushing despite the obstacles in front of him.
“I got a tattoo on my forearm that says, ‘Keep going,’ and I got that from a musical artist,” Horwitz said. “You’re going to have highs, you’re going to have lows, you’re going to have in-betweens, but just keep going and everything will work out and that’s what I’ve been living my life by. That’s my plan right now. I’m obviously not in the big leagues right now, but I’m going to keep going and try to get back there.”
For more from Horwitz, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Toronto Blue Jays