It was clear before watching him play, but it didn’t really click until I sat behind home plate for the Altoona/Richmond game a couple of weeks ago: Matt Gorski is a giant human being.
Gorski photoed above by David Hague.
Listed at 6’4″, 220 pounds on his MiLB player page, Gorski is build almost like someone who should be chasing down quarterbacks on Sundays, but instead is shagging fly balls on a daily basis on Altoona right now.
On Wednesday night, he fielded ground balls at second base for the first time in his professional career.
I was always amazed by how well Gorski moved in center field, especially for his size. He’s made some great plays while playing first base as well. He can now throw this double play into his resume.
DP started by @matthew_gorski7?
Sure, DP started by @matthew_gorski7 pic.twitter.com/YkNO5OR80n
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 31, 2023
Gorski has some of the loudest tools in the system. A home run derby between him and Mason Martin would be quite a site to behold, but it’s little stuff like this that really shows what he is capable of.
The strikeouts are still getting the better of him, but when he gets ahold of one, it’s still one of the best displays of power you can see.
This man, @matthew_gorski7 can truly do it all. pic.twitter.com/APnIwEGflZ
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 31, 2023
Gorski really burst onto the scene last year and showed what he was capable of when everything was clicking.
He has a long way to get back to that kind of production, but it’s little things like switching to a new position in the middle of a game, and then launching a home run to center field, that reminds you of what he can do.
Prospect Notes
— Endy Rodriguez picked up a triple Wednesday night, two days after picking up four hits. It’s been a rough start to the season, even though he’s shown signs, but this may be a sign the bat is coming around.
— For the third straight start, Anthony Solometo completed at least six full innings in a start. In those outings he’s allowed just nine hits, two runs and three walks, while striking out 17 (across 19 innings pitched).
It’s worth saying, again, he’s just 20-years-old pitching in High-A, a very hitter friendly league for that matter as well.
— It seems like for every two steps Termarr Johnson has taken forward, it’s been at least another back so far this year. He’s hitting the ball with authority, but the strike outs are still there. The walk rate has been incredible, but he also went down on strikes two more times on Wednesday.
For how hyped his hit tool is, it should also be noted that he’s still 18-years-old, having a June birthday. There will probably be struggles as he keeps trying to find his footing.
Daily Video Rundown
K-Nic counter is up to 8! @kylenicolas19 has 6 scoreless innings tonight! pic.twitter.com/QTKPy5bSae
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 31, 2023
Six shutout innings where he strikes out eight while walking only one and allowing two hits. Those are the kind of things you want to see out of Kyle Nicolas.
Safe to say the feathers are ruffled early.
Nick Gonzales is the kind of prospect that can ruin a night where he hit a grand slam by striking out three times as well, which he did on Wednesday.
Tsung-Che Cheng absolutely DESTROYED this one. His seventh of the season #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/9rRj4d3DXA
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) May 31, 2023
Tsung-Che Cheng hit his seventh home run of the season on Wednesday in a game that Greensboro went on to win.
Pirates Prospects Daily
By Tim Williams
For the last week+, I’ve been on a reduced schedule, and the site has been on a reduced schedule. This week I’m resuming my editing duties, which means we’ll have a full schedule of articles again. We might even get to a point where it’s a somewhat normal schedule.
**Can Rodolfo Castro Be More Than A Platoon Player?
**Pirates Release Blake Cederlind; Travis Swaggerty Returns to Indianapolis
Song of the Day
