Pirates Share Bad Injury Update on Spencer Horwitz
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates hoped that Spencer Horwitz would return soon, but it will be longer than originally anticipated before he's back in the lineup.
Pirates manager Don Kelly said that Horwitz was diagnosed with a concussion after getting hit in the head with a pitch and they will re-evaluate him daily to see when they can clear him.
Horwitz got hit in the helmet in his last game on his rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton on July 25, remaining in the game and even hitting a solo home run afterwards.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on The Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan that Horwitz avoided getting hit in the jaw, thanks to his C-Flap on his helmet, but that they were still checking to make sure he was good before they activated him.
Horwitz Almost Came Back From Other Injury
Horwitz came back to Pittsburgh on July 26, as the Pirates wanted to see if he could get back following his left hamstring injury, that landed him on the 10-day injured list on June 25.
That injury came when he tried to beat out a double play in the 11-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at PNC Park on June 24, but departed following it.
He went down to Bradenton, Fla. and worked back to make sure he could return fully from his hamstring injury, which is a tricky one to come back from, with it being a soft tissue injury.
Horwitz performed well in his three games on his rehab assignment, with two hits in six at-bats, three walks to two strikeouts and the solo home run.
Kelly noted that Horwitz had a headache on July 26 and that those symptoms haven't subsided, so they will keep checking to see when he can come back.
Horwitz also won't have to go on the injured list for his concussion, as he is still on the 10-day injured list.
Where Pirates Will Look to with Horwitz Still Out
The Pirates will continue to rely on Ryan O'Hearn at first base in Horwitz's absence and hope that Horwitz comes back sooner rather than later.
O'Hearn has started 22 games at first base and has played in almost every game since Horwitz's injury, slashing .253/.336/.455 for an OPS of .791, with 25 hits, two doubles, six home runs, 24 RBI and 10 walks to 27 strikeouts.
The Pirates also have a few other options at first base, with utility man Tyler Callihan starting five games there, catcher Endy Rodríguez making one start and infielder Jacob Gonzalez could play there too.
Pittsburgh will hope that Horwitz isn't gone too long, as he was a key part of the lineup when he was healthy and will be once again when he returns.
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.