Blue Jays prospect Spencer Horwitz 'hasn't stopped smiling' since MLB call-up

Making it to the MLB level is a privilege most professional baseball players never achieve, so Toronto Blue Jays prospect Spencer Horwitz isn't taking his call to the majors for granted.

Horwitz was added to the Blue Jays' active roster on Friday ahead of the team's weekend series with the Texas Rangers. It's the first time the 25-year-old has made it to the big leagues since being selected by Toronto in the 24th round of the 2019 draft.

The first baseman is ranked as the 18th-best prospect in the Blue Jays organization, according to MLB Pipeline.

“I probably haven’t stopped smiling for 24 hours now,” Horwitz said before Friday's game, per MLB.com reporter Keegan Matheson. “This has been a day I’ve dreamed of. I was never fully sure if it would happen, but here we are."

The native of Maryland has steadily moved through the Blue Jays' farm system since his pro debut in 2019 and has been playing with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons for parts of the past two seasons. The results have been consistent regardless of the level, with his overall minor-league slash line sitting at .292/.395/.445. In 57 games with Buffalo this season, he's hitting .300/.421/.405 with two home runs.

Horwitz brings a patient, contact-oriented approach as a left-handed hitter but does not offer much in the way of power, which can limit the ceiling for a first baseman or designated hitter. He has received a decent amount of playing time in left field throughout his minor-league career, but Blue Jays manager John Schneider isn't eager to play him there unless the team is in a bind.

Toronto had an opening in its first base rotation with veteran Brandon Belt landing on the injured list this week due to a hamstring issue. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. still figures to see the lion's share of work at the position, but Horwitz and the surging Cavan Biggio can mix in there as well.