Outfielder Matt Gorski made a great first impression with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
The Pirates announced that Gorski had been promoted to the majors just two hours before their game against the Los Angeles Angels. Slotted into the seventh spot in the lineup, Gorski launched Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson’s 2-2 offering 434 feet to deep center for a home run in his first major league plate appearance, coming off the bat at 115.2 mph.
A second-round selection by the Pirates in the 2019 MLB Draft, Gorski rose quickly through the minors, reaching Triple-A by 2022. He had been a fairly well-regarded prospect, with MLB.com ranking Gorski as the Pirates’ 17th-best prospect in 2023. He had tantalized with his combination of power and speed, but an inability to make consistent contact held him back.
After being exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, the 27-year-old was back in Triple-A to start the 2025 season. He had put together a strong start to the year, posting a .300/.325/.529 batting line in 77 plate appearances, hitting three homers and seven doubles while stealing a pair of bases. Gorski had also cut down on his strikeouts, striking out just 17 times to start the year.
Gorski did not waste time in making a strong first impression on the Pirates. He could still force his way into their plans if he can build off of his strong showing in Triple-A this season.
