RADIO
Spencer Horwitz Not Expected to Return Until After the All-Star Break
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that the team does not expect first baseman Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) to return until after the All-Star break, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Horwitz was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left hamstring injury. Across 295 plate appearances in 2026, Horwitz has hit .280/.386/.455 with 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and one stolen base. Horwitz has the same number of walks (40) as strikeouts on the year and had emerged as the Pirates' primary leadoff hitter before the injury. With Horwitz on the shelf, Pirates outfielder/first baseman Ryan O'Hearn will likely shift his focus to the infield. Outfielders Tyler Callihan and Esmerlyn Valdez could see the biggest boost in playing time as a result of Horwitz's absence.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Ryan O'Hearn Snaps Power Outage With Two-Homer Game on Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn snapped a recent power outage with a big game in Sunday's series finale in a 9-4 victory over the division-rival Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. O'Hearn went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored, and a strikeout to raise his average to .286 and his OPS to .821 on the year. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed slugger had a solo shot in the fifth inning off Reds starter Brady Singer before hitting a three-run bomb in the eighth inning. Before his power display on Sunday in Pittsburgh, O'Hearn had hit just one home run in his previous 16 contests. Overall in 2026, in his first year with the Bucs, O'Hearn has been a consistent offensive producer, slashing .286/.342/.479 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and 38 runs scored in his 284 plate appearances as an everyday player. The difference has been his improvement against same-handed pitchers, as he entered Sunday's action hitting .250 (18-for-72) with three of his 11 homers against lefties.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ryan O'Hearn Offers Potential Power Production Off the Waiver Wire
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn has been a solid part of the middle of the batting order for the Pirates and has been able to contribute solid power numbers and run production. He has 11 RBI over his last 11 games, going 15-for-48 (.313) with five doubles, a home run, and a .342 wOBA. The 32-year-old lefty has been very solid in his 67 games with the Pirates after joining them this past offseason on a two-year deal. O'Hearn is on pace to set a new career-high in homers and RBI if he stays healthy, and he can chip in solid run production for NL-only leagues or deep mixed leagues right away if you need some thump from the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Spencer Horwitz Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Injury
The Pittsburgh Pirates will place first baseman Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left-hamstring injury that he suffered in Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners, according to Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. With time running out before the mid-July All-Star break, Horwitz might not be back in the team's starting lineup until the start of the second half. In his second year with the Bucs in 2026, the left-handed-hitting first baseman has hit .280/.386/.455 with an .842 OPS, 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and a stolen base across 74 games and 295 plate appearances. He's only 13 home runs shy of setting a new career high in his fourth year in the big leagues. The 28-year-old former 24th-round selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019 out of Radford University went 19-for-73 (.260) with three homers, three doubles, seven RBI, and 12 runs scored in 19 games in June before landing on the IL. In Horwitz's absence, Ryan O'Hearn will likely see most of the starts in the Steel City at first base.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Kevin Gorman
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Kevin Gorman
Spencer Horwitz Exits Early on Wednesday With Left-Hamstring Discomfort
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) was forced to exit early from his team's game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday due to left hamstring discomfort. Horwitz was 0-1 with a walk in two trips to the plate before being removed from the game. The 28-year-old has been one of Pittsburgh's key pieces on offense so far this season, hitting .280/.386/.455 with 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and one stolen base across 295 plate appearances. Horwitz has emerged as the primary leadoff hitter in Pittsburgh and has the same number of walks (40) as strikeouts on the year. Pirates utility man Tyler Callihan took over at first base after Horwitz exited the game. If Horwitz hits the injured list, Callihan, outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez, and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna could all be in line for more playing time in Pittsburgh.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Spencer Horwitz's Recent Slide Opens Waiver-Wire Buy-Low Chance
Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz has cooled off slightly while navigating his most productive season as a professional. Horwitz is hitting just .160 over his last seven games, but the overall production remains strong for the 28-year-old. He is slashing .277/.387/.450 with a .837 OPS and nine home runs across 70 games this season. Now in his second year with Pittsburgh, Horwitz has lowered his K% from 17.8 percent to 13.3 percent while increasing his walk rate, showing clear growth in his offensive profile. The recent slump should not concern fantasy managers, who may want to take advantage of this buy-low opportunity before Horwitz gets back on track.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Spencer Horwitz Emerging as a Must-Add First Baseman on the Waiver Wire
Across 264 plate appearances in 2026, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz is hitting .281/.383/.452 with nine home runs, 31 RBI, 29 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 28-year-old has demonstrated an elite plate approach so far this season, lowering his strikeout rate to a career-low 14.0% while maintaining a 13.3% walk rate. Horwitz has also emerged as the leadoff hitter in the Pirates' lineup on a near-everyday basis, which should allow him to continue racking up counting stats. The lefty-swinger's 8.0% barrel rate and 33.5% hard-hit rate are underwhelming and do not point to high-end power upside. Still, Horwitz's balanced approach at the plate and his ability to hit both right and left-handed pitching make him an appealing waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Spencer Horwitz Emerging as High-End Waiver-Wire Target Amid Power Surge
Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz has taken a step forward in his second year with Pittsburgh, posting a .286 average and a .846 OPS. The 28-year-old went 2-for-3 on Sunday with a solo home run and continues to earn steady playing time in the middle of the order. He has already hit eight home runs, putting him on pace to surpass his previous career high of 12, and his added power has been a welcome development for the Pirates lineup. This recent stretch has strengthened his case as a high-end waiver wire target as we approach the heart of the season.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Spencer Horwitz Swinging a Hot Bat, Entering Must-Add Territory?
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz is putting together a productive season and remains a strong waiver wire target for managers needing corner infield help. The 28-year-old is hitting .289 with a .389 OBP and .858 OPS in 173 at-bats, showing excellent plate discipline with a low strikeout rate and strong walk rate. He's been especially hot in May, hitting safely in 17 of his last 21 games at one point, and has already chipped in seven home runs on the season. Horwitz has earned an everyday role in the Pittsburgh lineup, playing first base and typically batting leadoff against right-handed pitching. He's still available in a large percentage of leagues and offers a nice blend of average, on-base skills, and emerging power. If you're looking for a steady, high-floor option at corner infield, Horwitz is worth picking up.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ryan O'Hearn Activated from Injured List on Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/first baseman Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) has been activated off the 10-day injured list, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. O'Hearn will take the roster spot of Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (forearm), who is headed to the injured list with a flexor strain in his right forearm. O'Hearn has been on the injured list since May 17 due to a quad injury. The 32-year-old was off to a strong start to his first season in Pittsburgh before getting hurt, hitting .289/.368/.459 with seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and one stolen base across 182 plate appearances. With his 44.9% hard-hit rate and 18.7% strikeout rate, O'Hearn profiles as a strong source of batting average who should continue to compile counting stats in an everyday role in the heart of the Pirates lineup.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Esmerlyn Valdez Optioned to Triple-A
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder/outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. He'll head back to the minor leagues after playing only five games in the big leagues. During that span, Valdez went 2-for-16 with two home runs, five RBI, and struck out nine times. The Pirates likely want to see his strikeout rate improve, and Valdez should work on that in an everyday role at Triple-A. In a corresponding move, infielder Tyler Callihan has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster. Valdez is likely to be back at some point, but isn't someone worth holding in redraft formats.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Ryan O'Hearn Deserving of a Stash While on Injured List?
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) has been on the 10-day injured list since May 17 with a quadriceps injury, but he resumed working out on Monday and is worth a look as a stash candidate off the waiver wire with a potential return to the Bucs by the middle of June. The 32-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran has been solid so far in his first season in Pittsburgh, slashing .289/.368/.459 with an .827 OPS, seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a stolen base across 44 games and 182 plate appearances. O'Hearn doesn't offer significant power or run production, but it's worth noting that he could continue to play regularly in the Steel City once healthy if he can maintain his gains against same-handed pitching. Through 50 plate appearances against lefties in 2026, O'Hearn has gone 13-for-47 (.277) with one of his seven home runs and a .300 on-base percentage. He's also eligible at first base, in addition to outfield, in Yahoo leagues. For at least outfield depth in deeper mixed leagues, O'Hearn is a stash candidate and is rostered in 58% of leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Ryan O'Hearn Does Agility Drills on Monday
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) left the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 16 after the third inning because of right-quad discomfort and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day with a right-quad muscle strain. O'Hearn worked in the outfield on Monday with agility/cone drills, according to MLB.com. Barring a setback once he starts ramping up more, O'Hearn is expected to come off the IL at some point in mid-June. Monday was the first activity that the 32-year-old veteran has done since injuring his quad. In his first year in the Steel City, O'Hearn has hit .289/.368/.459 with an .827 OPS, seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a stolen base across 44 games and 182 plate appearances. Although he has just one home run against left-handers, he's gone a very respectable 13-for-47 (.277) against them with a .300 on-base percentage. O'Hearn is currently rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues. In his absence, the Bucs have been mixing and matching in right field with Esmerlyn Valdez, Jhostynxon Garcia, and Jake Mangum.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pirates Promoting Esmerlyn Valdez, Viewed as Priority Waiver-Wire Target?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting outfielder/first baseman Esmerlyn Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, a source told Pirates insider Jason Mackey. In a corresponding move, the team optioned outfielder Billy Cook to Indy. The 22-year-old is considered Pittsburgh's No. 9 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and the Dominican should have an opportunity to play alongside fellow outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia in right field with Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) currently on the injured list. Valdez will receive his first major-league call-up after hitting .253/.381/.506 with an .888 OPS, 10 home runs, 29 RBI, and 25 runs scored in 46 games across 194 plate appearances at Triple-A. The 6-foot-2, 234-pound right-handed hitter has intriguing raw power and has matured as a hitter this year on the farm to lower his swing-and-miss and chase rate. Because Valdez will most likely be in a platoon against left-handed pitchers, fantasy managers shouldn't overspend to roster him in mixed leagues in his first taste of the major leagues.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
Ryan O'Hearn Goes on Injured List With Quad Strain
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) is going on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a right-quad strain, according to Pirates reporter Jason Mackey. O'Hearn was pulled from Saturday's game early against the Philadelphia Phillies with right-quad discomfort, and now the 32-year-old veteran will miss at least the next 10 games. O'Hearn went hitless in just one at-bat on Saturday before leaving and is hitting a strong .291/.370/.462 with an .832 OPS, seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a stolen base in 158 at-bats over his first 43 games with the Pirates this year. Now that he will be sidelined for a bit of time, both Nick Yorke and Billy Cook could see more time in the Bucs' outfield for at least the next 10 days. O'Hearn's strong season to this point had earned him some looks off the waiver wire, and he's currently rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues. Surprisingly, O'Hearn has improved against lefties this year, going 13-for-46 (.283) with one of his seven home runs against them. UPDATE: General manager Ben Cherington said that O'Hearn's quad strain is "moderate" and is likely to keep him on the sidelines for around four weeks.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
