SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Michael McGreevy #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on May 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After losing to the Milwaukee Brewers on Memorial Day Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals will try again on Tuesday night as Michael McGreevy will start for the good guys while Kyle Harrison takes the mound for the villains. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm at American Family Field in Milwaukee and will be watchable on Cardinals.tv.
If you somehow haven’t heard about how good this kid is, maybe this will catch you up to speed.
There is very little to dislike about the BYU product’s game: he’s strong, he’s physical, he has all of the measurables to do well at the NBA level, he can play multiple positions, he’s comfortable being a play initiator, he’s efficient, he LED THE NCAA IN SCORING AS A FRESHMAN WITH 25 POINTS A GAME, and the list could honestly go on forever. The argument could be made, and has been made by myself before, that this entire year for Dybantsa was just a cardio session as he prepared for the NBA. The one and only knock on his game is his defensive prowess, and while I think there is certainly room to improve, he carried so much of the BYU Cougar’s offense (especially after Richie Saunders went down with injury) that I think his effort could be excused to some extent, but more importantly he wasn’t a bad defender; by every metric he was slightly below league average.
If the Utah Jazz had the #1 pick in this year’s draft I believe that Dybantsa would be the clear target for us. That being said, by every indication, the #1 selection for the Washington Wizards has not been set in stone and there is an opportunity that we could get our guy at #2 after all. I like to think positively so let’s dive into the AJ Dybantsa the prospect, and how he could change this franchise for the better.
Team Fit
I’ve had Dybantsa as the #1 prospect in this draft for quite some time, but I would be lying if I said that I didn’t think that Darryn Peterson would be the more natural fit for this team. After a stellar (albeit brief) run of play by Keyonte George where be displayed his playmaking ability with a career high 6.1 assists per game, it seems like Will Hardy believes in him to be the starting point guard of the future for this team. I think that he’s more than proven that he’s ready for the responsibility, and while I do think that Isaiah Collier is the more natural facilitator of the two, George’s offensive upside and Collier’s offensive downside are too evident to be ignored.
With George set to have a healthy season running point, a natural need makes its presence known in the form of a starting shooting guard. Respectfully to John Konchar, I don’t think that he’s exactly what we’re looking for. I’m also not a believer that you should draft for fit in the early stages of the draft, but when we’re talking about as talented of a draft class as the 2026 class is, nearly any of the top 4-5 prospects could be a winner. Early in the draft you must draft the best talent, and figure out the rest later.
There are a few scenarios that I can see play out if we do decide to draft Dybantsa.
Option 1: We have a starting lineup of Keyonte George, AJ Dybantsa, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (assuming we’re able to bring him back which I hope and pray to the basketball gods that we do).
Option 2: We start George, Ace Bailey, Dybantsa, Jackson Jr., and Kessler – we reward Bailey for his stellar play over the last 25 games of the season and trade Lauri Markkanen to the highest bidder (Detroit, perhaps) for even more draft capital.
Option 3: We start George, Bailey, Dybantsa, Markkanen, and Jackson Jr. at the 5 if we’re unable to retain Kessler. I personally think that this would be the worst option of the three given Jackson Jr.‘s struggles to rebound the ball, but with all of the size that we do have with the rest of the lineup I think it could work.
As mentioned before, Dybantsa can play multiple positions so with whatever lineup we choose he could play anywhere from the lead ballhandler, to the slashing wing, to the traditional power forward, and I even think with time we could play him as a small-ball center given his strength as a player.
Options are always a good thing, and luckily Dybantsa fits into any plan that we may have.
Comparisons
Comparison is the thief of joy, but what is a draft prospect without a NBA comparison? I’ve always done a low, medium, and high end comparison for any player that I talk about and this won’t be any different here. With as talented of a player as Dybantsa is, even his low won’t even be that low, so by all measures this is a win-win scenario.
Low End: RJ Barrett
The similarities are certainly there, especially when you compare Dybantsa’s one year at BYU to Barrett’s one year at Duke. They were both great scorers (over 20 points per game), they were both less than league average three point shooters, but they were able able to make up for that fact with their ability to get to the rim, and their midrange games. We’re 7 years into Barrett’s career now and it doesn’t seem like he’ll ever be an above league average shooter from deep. This obviously wouldn’t be the most desired outcome, but Barrett has hovered around 20 points per game ever since the 2021-2022 season with decent efficiency.
If Dybantsa ended up like Barrett would that feel like a let down? Sure, but Barrett is still a very solid player and can fit into any system. It isn’t ideal, but having Dybantsa be the next RJ Barrett wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Medium End: DeMar DeRozan
If this were a Pokemon evolution, DeMar DeRozan would be the Charmeleon stage of player. We want Charizard, of course, but Charmeleon is still pretty good. In this scenario Dybantsa still doesn’t reach his “full potential” but he becomes a master at slashing to the rim and becomes lethal in the midrange. DeRozan has had an incredible career, and while I’m sure that he would have liked a championship to go with all his personal accolades and stats, what he’s been able to do over the last 17 years has been outstanding.
DeRozan is in a very elite club of basketball players with over 26,000 points (and counting) in the league. This past season was actually a down year for him as he “only” scored 18.4 points per game, which is the first time that he’s scored less than 20 points per game since President Obama was in his first term. He’s maintained this level of excellence for most of his career, and if Dybantsa can follow in his footsteps, I think that scoring over 25,000 points is pretty great.
High End: Paul George
In this (hopeful) scenario, Dybantsa figures the game out. He’s a great at rim finisher, he has a great post game, he has stretched his game out to the three point line and shoots a respectable clip (George has shot 38% for his career from deep), AND he becomes an elite defender. As a legitimate two-way threat he’s able to put himself into MVP contention and propel this team to heights that they haven’t seen in quite some time.
This is asking for a lot, at least for right now, but I believe that in time he’ll be able to make the necessary adjustments to thrive in this game. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a truly remarkable season from George, but the streets won’t forget his run in Indiana, or what he was able to do alongside Russell Westbrook in OKC. That is what we’re striving for, and I think that Dybantsa has the ability to make it happen.
Ceiling
There is a secret fourth senecio where Dybantsa is so good that he goes beyond every single comparison I just made and becomes truly one of the elite; not just for a particular season, but potentially of all-time. That is a ridiculous amount of pressure to put on a 20 year old kid, but when you’re a top prospect in the NBA, it comes with the territory.
This may be a controversial statement (for multiple reasons) but in a world where Dybantsa becomes an all-time great player, I think that he could be as good as Jayson Tatum was prior to his Achilles injury. Some of why I say that is the Boston connection – Dybantsa grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts and grew up as a Boston Celtics fan, but when you look at what Dybantsa was able to do for BYU after Richie Saunders went down with an injury, dare I say it was very Tatum-esque.
Most NBA fans could tell you that Jayson Tatum scores with the best of them, is very efficient given his offensive responsibilities, and that he’s been one of the best 15 players in the league for quite some time. What Boston Celtics fans will tell you is that not only is he a great scorer, but he’s also a great facilitator, defender, and rebounder.
Tatum has averaged more than 7 rebounds per game since the 2019-2020 season, he’s averaged more than 4 assists per game since the 2020-2021 season, and while he won’t show up in any All-Defensive teams, you could make the argument that if the Celtics didn’t have Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday at various points, that his defense would be more widely known across the league’s fans. Even when you look at his (limited) games this year after coming back from injury, they show how great of a player he still is: nearly 22 points per game, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and almost 1.5 steals. Not to mention the fact that Tatum, at only 27 years old mind you (although some people still say he’s 19) he has finished Top-6 in MVP voting 4 times, he’s a 6x All-Star, and a 5x All-NBA selection with four of them being 1st team.
I believe that Dybantsa has the ability to round out his game like Tatum has. Dybantsa has all the tools to be an All-World kind of player, and if he ends up like Tatum, we may be talking about multiple championships in Utah.
We here at SLC Dunk are AMPED for the draft and have a lot of great articles on the way, so be on the lookout for that! What do you think of Dybantsa as a prospect? Do you think we should draft someone else if we have the chance? Sound off in the comments!
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 19: Bailey Falter #36 of the Kansas City Royals throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 19, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things are really bleak right now. The Kansas City Royals have five wins since May 6. The New York Yankees, and their many fans, are in town looking for their fifth consecutive win against the Royals this year. That’s underselling it, actually; the Yankees have defeated the Royals in the last 11 consecutive regular season games dating back to 2024. And, oh yeah, the Yankees are sending Cam Schlittler to the mound. The 25-year-old righty leads the American League in pitching Wins Above Replacement with a 1.50 ERA. He’s nasty nasty.
You know what that means, right? The Royals are probably gonna score, like, eight runs out of nowhere. It’s either that or zero runs. No in between.
Of course, it may not matter. The Royals are sending Bailey Falter out there, who has been…less than stellar this season. Less than stellar as a Royal, really. Afterwards, it’ll be a bullpen game. The chances for an Aaron Judge home run seem greater than 100%.
But you don’t play baseball in a spreadsheet. You play it on a field. And the Royals can’t lose against the Yankees forever. Right? Right????
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 17: Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a two-RBI double in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The idea of the Montreal Canadiens signing forward Evgeni Malkin this summer can officially be forgotten.
This is because the Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have signed Malkin to a one-year, $5.5 million contract extension.
Malkin was the best pending unrestricted free agent center who could have hit the market on July 1. Due to this, some wondered if the Canadiens could consider making a push for him if he tested the market this summer. Yet, with this news, Malkin will be staying put with the Penguins and playing his 21st season in Pittsburgh.
Malkin would have had the potential to be a nice addition to the Canadiens' forward group. The veteran forward showed this season that he can still produce like a star, as he posted 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games with the Penguins. With numbers like these, he could have been a good pickup for Montreal's top six.
Yet, at the same time, the Canadiens bringing in Malkin would have come with some real risk. Malkin will be turning 40 in July and has a long history of injury trouble. Due to this, if the Canadiens should have far better options to consider on the trade market if they want to add a top-six center during the off-season.
May 9, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
On the heels of a brutal 4-10 skid that dropped them 5.5 games back of the Rays for first place in the AL East, the Yankees pulled consecutive victories out of a hat, winning both in the ninth. The latter win came yesterday against the Royals, with embattled shortstop Anthony Volpe lining a two-run single off closer Lucas Erceg to flip a deficit into a lead.
With a chance to win the three-game set today, the Yankees will hand the ball to Cam Schlittler. Despite an array of more decorated arms in the team’s rotation, it’s Schlittler who’s pitched like the team’s ace, recording an MLB-best 1.50 ERA through 11 starts while shooting to the top of most AL Cy Young odds boards. His last time out, the 25-year-old allowed more than one earned run for the first time in over a month, holding the Blue Jays to two over six innings while taking his second loss of the season. Schlittler throws some form of fastball more than 90 percent of the time, and for good reason; opponents are hitting below the Mendoza line against each of his four-seamer, his cutter, and his sinker.
He’s lined up to face Bailey Falter. The southpaw struggled upon joining the Royals at last year’s Trade Deadline and began 2026 in the bullpen. After allowing five runs in his first two outings, though, he was sent down to Triple-A Omaha, where he pitched well enough to get recalled in mid-May. Falter made his first start of the year last Tuesday, going just two innings to kick off a bullpen game. Expect something similar today, since he hasn’t thrown as many as 50 pitches all year and is not stretched out to handle a starter’s workload. Falter pitches off his four-seamer, which he’s thrown more than 60 percent of the time and against which opponents are hitting a brutal .500.
Kansas City will run out the same lineup for the fourth game in a row (outside of swapping Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen between catcher and DH). It’s a group that’s struggled to get going, scoring the sixth-fewest runs in baseball. Against the lefty Falter, the Yankees will start Amed Rosario at third, while Volpe gets the nod over José Caballero at short. Ben Rice, who’s just 5-for-37 of late, will drop to fifth for the first time since April 18th. He’s at DH with the lefty-mashing Paul Goldschmidt at first base and cleanup.
How to watch:
Location: Kauffman Stadium — Kansas City, MO
First pitch: 7:40 pm EDT
TV Broadcast: YES Network | Royals.TV
Radio Broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | 96.5 The Fan, Royals Radio Network (KC)
May 24, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots while defended by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) in the fourth quarter during game four of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Today is Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. The San Antonio Spurs play the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET. Watch it on NBC (WRC-TV) in the DMV.
Enjoy hearing “Roundball Rock” non-stop and the basketball.
Apr 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates up ice with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin is going to get a chance to finish what he started in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins re-signed the franchise icon to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million on Tuesday, answering perhaps the club's biggest offseason question before the offseason truly starts.
Malkin, who turns 40 in August, was set to become a free agent on July 1. The Russian had maintained for the past year-plus that he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh rather than hit the open market for the first time in his career. General manager Kyle Dubas spent months declining to offer any specifics on the prospect of keeping Malkin around.
“It’s not easy for Kyle, maybe he wants new blood here,” Malkin said shortly after the Penguins' bounce-back season ended with a Game 6 loss to rival Philadelphia in the opening round of the playoffs. “I understand business. I understand he wants maybe new team, see new faces here.”
Dubas didn't tip his hand until recently, saying on May 12 that the Penguins would “love” to have Malkin back for a 21st and perhaps final season of a career that will almost certainly end with him entering the Hall of Fame.
While he missed 20 games because of an injury and another five to a late-season suspension for an illegal hit, Malkin finished with 19 goals and 42 assists in 56 games to help Pittsburgh return to the playoffs after a three-year absence.
And while Dubas has given the roster a significant overhaul and a needed influx of young talent since taking over in the summer of 2023, that talent is not ready to supplant Malkin on Pittsburgh's second line.
"I don’t think he’s blocking anybody,” Dubas said earlier this month.
The signing means Malkin, and longtime running mates Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are all under contract for next season. The trio has played 20 seasons together, the longest run by any three teammates in major North American professional sports history.
Malkin, the second overall pick in the 2004 draft, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and the 2012 Hart Trophy winner as the NHL's Most Valuable Player, acknowledged he was open to playing elsewhere next season.
It never came to that.
While Malkin will take a bit of a pay cut from the $6.1 million he made on the deal that expires on June 30, when healthy and engaged, he remains a dangerous offensive player. His strong start last fall helped fuel Pittsburgh's return to contention under first-year head coach Dan Muse, and his 1.09 points per game tied Crosby for tops on the team.
Malkin's 1,407 career points are second all time among Russian-born players, trailing only NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin. While Ovechkin's future remains up in the air, Malkin's now is not.
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays signed right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel to a major league contract on Tuesday to shore up their bullpen.
The Rays placed right-hander Jesse Scholtens on the 15-day injured list with a right wrist strain to make room for Kimbrel on the active roster.
The New York Mets designated Kimbrel for assignment on Friday after the nine-time All-Star allowed 10 runs over 15 innings in 14 appearances. He signed a free agent contract with the team in January.
The 37-year-old Kimbrel has 440 saves with 10 teams in his 17-year career. He won a World Series with Boston in 2018 and was the 2011 NL rookie of the year.
The Rays have the AL’s best record at 34-17, but their bullpen’s ERA of 4.40 is 21st in the majors.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 25: Brooks Lee #22 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates hitting a home run during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on May 25, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch: 6:40 PM CDT
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy App, LosTwins.com
Today’s pitching match-up will be Joe Ryan vs. Sean Burke. Ryan has been great lately, with just a single run allowed in each of his last 3 starts. Meanwhile, Burke has been struggling, with 12 ER allowed in his last 13.1 innings.
Rajat Patidar led from the front with an unbeaten 93 to help defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru storm into the IPL final with a 92-run thrashing of Gujarat Titans on Tuesday.
May 24, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Detroit Tigers infielder Colt Keith (33) slides safely into third base in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (21-33) vs. Los Angeles Angels (20-34)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: Halos Heaven Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (2-3, 3.83 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz (2-3, 4.55 ERA)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 8: Karl Malone (L) and John Stockton of the Utah Jazz appear 08 June at a press conference at the United Center in Chicago, IL. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Jazz 96-54 in game three of the NBA Finals 07 June to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. (Photo credit should read DAN LIPPITT/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
On May 10th, 2026, the Utah Jazz won the No. 2 pick at the NBA Draft Lottery. Marking the first time in Jazz history they’ve moved up in the lottery, it’s been a little over two weeks since the Jazz were able to move up. If I’m being honest, I don’t think Jazz fans are excited enough. This draft class, as you already should know, is truly special, and for the Jazz to land the No. 2 pick this year with everything else they’ve accumulated truly is a franchise-changing moment.
The final results from the NBA Draft Lottery 2026:
1. Washington Wizards 2. Utah Jazz 3. Memphis Grizzlies 4. Chicago Bulls 5. LA Clippers 6. Brooklyn Nets 7. Sacramento Kings 8. Atlanta Hawks 9. Dallas Mavericks 10. Milwaukee Bucks 11. Golden State Warriors 12. Oklahoma…
The Jazz have finished last place in the Western Conference two years in a row now. They haven’t made the playoffs since Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were still leading the team during the 2021-2022 season. The Jazz haven’t made the Western Conference Finals since the 2006-2007 season, falling to the Spurs 4-1. And of course we all know the story of how John Stockton and Karl Malone fell to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in ’97 and ’98. Losing two Finals back-to-back is brutal, and the truth is being a Jazz fan has really only ever brought pain and suffering, but I believe it’s all about to pay off.
While the Jazz did finish last in the Western Conference the past two seasons, you’d be blind to ignore the trajectory the team is currently riding. And let’s be completely honest, if the Jazz actually tried to win last season they probably could’ve slid in as an 8th seed via the play-in. Fortunately they did the right thing, choosing to play for the draft pick. The worst-case scenario for the Jazz in the lottery would’ve been picking 8th. Even in that hypothetical, the Jazz would’ve almost certainly been a top 6 seed next year in an already loaded Western Conference, with Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the way, Walker Kessler likely returning, and an emerging Ace Bailey by his side. That would’ve been more than enough to get the Jazz back into the fight in the West, but finally the lottery gods blessed the Jazz — not with the No. 4, not No. 3, but No. 2!!! In a draft class where it’s truly 1A, 1B, and 1B might just be the best player in the class! That’s not the point of this discussion though. It does not matter who the Jazz take. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is. The Jazz are getting a franchise-changing player no matter what.
The ultimate goal is always to win the NBA Finals. The Jazz have been in Utah for 47 years, and we are still waiting for the first parade through Salt Lake City. I believe the Jazz are on the path to us potentially having one of those parades in the coming years, but it won’t be easy. Watching the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs has been intimidating, to say the least… But I truly believe now after the lottery the Jazz are positioned to where they could realistically beat one of those teams in a playoff series.
We’re just about a month away from the 2026 NBA Draft! This could be the best time to be a Jazz fan in franchise history. Am I too bullish? Do you agree? When was the last time you were this excited about a Jazz team? The Jazz are going to be FUN next year, and I personally can’t wait to see just how high this team can fly.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 20: Spencer Horwitz #2 of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium on May 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Much has been made of the Pirates’ new-look offense in 2026.
After posting one of the worst offensive seasons in franchise history last year, the Pirates have blossomed into one of the best lineups in the sport.
Don’t believe it? It’s easy to think after the team finished in the bottom five of most offensive categories, but the numbers don’t lie.
The Pirates are tied for third in hits (8.6), tied for fourth in batting average (.249), fifth in on-base (.331), tied for fifth in runs per game (4.8),and 11th in OPS (.717).
Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, and Konnor Griffin debuting have been considerable reasons why, but the Pirates wouldn’t be where they are if it wasn’t for one of the most underrated players in the National League.
First baseman Spencer Horwitz is exactly what the Pirates need.
A contact-first approach but capable of hitting the ball out of the park, Horwitz isn’t a prototypical first baseman. The Pirates don’t need him to be.
Horwitz is batting .282, third best on the team, and hit leadoff for the Pirates on Sunday and Monday. He’s hit as low as eighth in the lineup, including Tuesday.
Horwitz is tied sixth in the NL with a team-high .389 on-base percentage, trailing All-Stars Brice Trang (.410), James Wood (.405), Shohei Ohtani (.403), Corbin Carroll (.399), and young stars Xavier Edwards (.391) and Drake Baldwin (.389).
He swings a solid bat from the left side, owning a .832 OPS in 149 at-bats. Horwitz struggles against lefties (.190 average) and tends to sit against left-handed starters, but is batting close to .300 (.297) against righties in 128 at-bats.
Horwitz is somewhat of a throwback player who can hit the ball the other way, make solid contact, and doesn’t strike out.
For a lineup that includes Cruz (on pace to record the most strikeouts in franchise history), Reynolds, Lowe, Marcell Ozuna, and Henry Davis, Horwitz’s approach is a necessity to balance the roster construction.
The 28-year-old former Blue Jay is the only Pirate regular to earn more walks (26) than strikeouts (24). Horwitz homered off Dylan Cease in Toronto in the Bucs’ 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
Good teams need players like Horwitz who won’t gain significant attention but find a way to come through. He’s hit five home runs and driven in 23.
Baseball Savant adds an additional element to Horwitz’s success, ranking him in the 86th percentile in batting run value.
He doesn’t hit the ball all that hard (17th) or have a good barrel percentage (19th), but squares up the ball (87th) and doesn’t chase poor pitches (77th).
Horwitz ranks in the 94th percentile in whiff percentage and is zigging when the league zags to the three true outcomes. His strikeout (90th) and walk (89th) percentiles are some of the best in the sport.
He won’t hit the ball 440 feet, make flashy defensive plays, or easily score from first on a ball in the gap, but Spencer Horwitz is more valuable than many people think.
If the Pirates are going to climb the difficult NL Central stairway to a playoff bid, Horwitz is going to be a major reason why the Bucs have their most competitive and complete offense in a decade.
