Around the Curve | Matt Gorski Bolsters Resume with First Base Reps

This story is part of the series 2025 Spring Break: Young Bucs Edition, a compilation of reports from Bradenton leading up to Opening Day.

BRADENTON, Fla. – Matt Gorski’s bat has made headlines this spring as one of the more productive in Bradenton, but it’s his glove, specifically the type of glove he is wearing, that has helped to bolster his resume.

The former Curve outfielder picked up is 13^th RBI of the spring on Friday for the Pirates in an 8-8 tie with the Detroit Tigers at LECOM Park. As of March 14, he is tied for the most in all Major League Baseball and has added four home runs with a .429 batting average in his 15 games played.

There have been slight tweaks to his hitting approach this offseason, but most of his hours in camp have been spent at first base, and he says the extra time is paying off.

“This Spring Training I’ve been out there every day,” said Gorski. “I’d say I feel as good as I can feel there. Just the hours that we have been putting in early work wise this spring, I may have started as a five and now its inching towards a 10.”

Prior to camp, Gorski had 48 Minor League games at first on his resume, including 20 with the Curve from 2022-23, to go with some first base reps as a freshman at Indiana. When the Pirates’ projected Opening Day first baseman Spencer Horowitz went down to injury this Spring, the door opened for Gorski and others who are less familiar with the spot to focus more on it.

DJ Stewart, a seven-year Major League veteran outfielder signed by the Pirates this spring, has one Major League game at first base in career. He is one of 10 first basemen that the Pirates have used this Spring, including Gorski, as they try to find the solution for the Opening Day roster.

Gorski says that Pirates Bench Coach Don Kelly and Stewart, along with teammates Billy Cook and Darick Hall have all helped him to learn the position better. Horowitz has also passed on some tips during groundball sessions.

Gorski’s bat has outshined his first base competition this spring, and he credits a few minor adjustments from his offseason for his comfortable approach.

“I’m looking down at the pitcher now instead of being square,” Gorski said. “I feel like that has kept me on a better plane towards pitches. I had a lot of high peaks and low valleys last year and I think trying to stay consistent and even keeled for the whole season will be big for my campaign this year.”

Whether Gorski can crack the Pirates’ roster at some point this season remains to be seen, but if he does it would be for his Major League debut. When asked about what the call would mean to him, he was quick to give credit to those around him.

“I’ll just look back at all the hard work and all of the effort that I put in,” Gorski said. “Everybody says it’s the show and it’s totally different than a Minor League life. I’ll think about all of the sacrifices my family made by living in Altoona and Indianapolis to try and get me to this point.”

Curve Cuts

• The Pirates announced that Paul Skenes will be the Opening Day starter in Miami on Saturday morning from LECOM Park. Manager Derek Shelton shared the news with reporters in the morning before Skenes spoke about the honor. At 22-years-old, he is the youngest Opening Day starter for Pittsburgh since at least 1900 and the youngest in the Major Leagues since Jose Fernandez with Miami in 2014, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Curve alum Mitch Keller had started each of the last two Opening Day games for Pittsburgh.
• The Pirates defeated the Orioles 15-5 at LECOM Park on Saturday afternoon. Pittsburgh recorded 13 hits in the win and outscored Baltimore 10-1 over the last five innings of the game. The 15 runs were the most for the Pirates in a spring game since 3/6/20 at Toronto.
• Adam Frazier plated a run on a hard-hit groundout in the second inning for the Pirates. The former Curve infielder returned to Pittsburgh this offseason, signing as a free agent after he began his career in the Pirates organization. The now 33-year-old Frazier talked about his excitement to return to Pittsburgh and serve as a leader. “I’ve learned a lot since I left Pittsburgh and experienced some winning in each of those spots,” Frazier said. “I’m just trying to bring my experiences to help these young guys out and think I’ve got a lot to bring.”
• Altoona Curve alum Carmen Mlodzinski made his second start of the spring and first since the Pirates’ Spring opener. He allowed one run on two hits over three innings of work with two walks and three strikeouts. Mlodzinski, who has been used out of the Pirates’ bullpen for the past two seasons, has expressed interest in being used as a starting pitcher once again, as he did when he pitched in Altoona.
• A total of 18 Altoona Curve alums participated in the game for the Pirates. Jack Suwinski and Nick Gonzales each had two hits with a double and an RBI, while Oneil Cruz had two hits and two RBI, showing off an exit velocity of 108 mph on his RBI-single in the first.
• As the game got out of hand late, Nick Cimillo and Jase Bowen each hit RBI-doubles before Henry Davis hit a grand slam, his second home run of the spring. Endy Rodriguez drew three walks while Abrahan Gutierrez had a hit and an RBI.
• Up Next: The Pirates travel north today to Tampa for a matchup with the New York Yankees at 1:05 p.m. Carson Fulmer is expected to start the game for Pittsburgh.

Stay tuned to the Around the Curve blog all week for our 2025 Spring Break: Young Bucs Edition series, with Jon Mozes and Preston Shoemaker reporting from Bradenton.