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4 Blue Jays prospects with the most to gain in 2024
By Edward Eng
Spencer Horwitz
For aging prospect Spencer Horwitz, he had an eventful 2023 season with both the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and the Jays. It was his "coming out season" in regards to his hitting maturity and offensive growth. With the Bisons, he provided consistent run production all season long by hitting .337 with a .945 OPS, along with 61 runs scored, 10 home runs and 72 RBI. At the same time, he drew more walks than strikeouts, showing great plate discipline in the process. As a result of Horwitz’s stellar 2023 performance, it earned him the Stan Barron Most Valuable Player team award in recognition of his achievements.
Moreover, his strong play also earned him a couple of looks at the major league level with the Jays this past season. In 15 games, Horwitz managed a respectable .256 batting average with five runs scored, two doubles, a home run and seven RBI, and didn’t look out of place in his plate appearances. As a result, his solid performance with his bat confirmed that he was indeed MLB-ready.
With the uncertainty of the status of designated hitter/free agent Brandon Belt as he ponders his future, Horwitz becomes the most ideal replacement for Belt this upcoming season. Not only does he profile quite similarly to Belt in that he bats left-handed along with playing in the same positions, he could be an even more effective offensive producer since he does not strike out often like his predecessor.
If the Jays end up re-signing Belt or finding another suitable DH, Horwitz and his big league-ready bat would most likely be dealt to a team that could give him more consistent playing time than the Blue Jays. Either way, Horwitz’s days as a minor leaguer should be coming to an end this upcoming season.