Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Matt Gorski hits a home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels. Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Three stars of the night in MLB: Pirates rookie homers in first MLB at-bat

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Apr 24, 2025 11:43 PM ET

With the completion of Thursday's MLB slate, the theme of the day was much of the opposite of the previous two days.

Stellar starting pitching performances were the stories of the day both Tuesday and Wednesday, but Thursday was mainly about the home run ball.

Here are three stars from Thursday's action around the diamond.

Matt Gorski, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates

Every baseball player has dreamed of making to the major leagues and hitting a home run when they step up to the plate for the first time.

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Matt Gorski turned that dream into a reality on Wednesday when he did just that, launching his first career home run on the seventh pitch thrown to him in his major league career.

Gorski became the 140th player in the history of MLB to hit a home run in his first at-bat and the first since Jhonkensy Noel did it in June 2024.

MATT GORSKI FIRST AT BAT FIRST HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/Dga4agwRLH
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 25, 2025

Jordan Beck, LF, Colorado Rockies

Despite his team losing both games of a doubleheader on Thursday, Beck had himself quite a day at the plate.

He hit a home run in the first game of the day in a 7-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals. In game two of the doubleheader, Beck was the only reason the Rockies scored, as he was 2-for-3 with two home runs in the 6-2 loss to Kansas City.

It is the first time that Beck has hit two home runs in a game, and he is a major bright spot on what has been a historically awful Rockies team.

Beck blast pic.twitter.com/2gLPUZ18KX
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 24, 2025

Shane Smith, SP, Chicago White Sox

Much like the Rockies, the Chicago White Sox have been quite abysmal to start the 2025 season.

Right-handed pitcher Shane Smith has been one of the few standouts for Chicago, and he delivered again on Thursday.

Smith threw five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins. The start lowered his season ERA to 2.30, good for 13th best in MLB.

Shane Smith, Disgusting 89mph Changeup.

19 inches of run. pic.twitter.com/g0cE106vfI
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 24, 2025

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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