For the second time this week, a former Indiana Baseball player saw his dreams come true.
Native Hoosier and former IU outfielder Matt Gorski (2017-19) was called up to join the Pirates, becoming the 38th former IU player to make an appearance in the MLB.
The debut on Thursday couldn’t have gone much better for Gorski. In his first career at-bat, he smashed a 434-foot home run that exited the bat at 115 miles per hour. His family and wife were in attendance at Angels Stadium to revel in the moment.
Here’s Gorski’s blast. Former IU baseball player John Wehner is on the Pirates broadcast team. You can hear him briefly begin to sing the IU fight song.
The anatomy of a debut: Matt Gorski’s Rendition pic.twitter.com/lEUCVVOddH
— David Welch (@dcwelch_24) April 25, 2025
Once a star at Hamilton Southeastern H.S. in Fishers, Ind., Gorski played three seasons for the Hoosiers under head coaches Chris Lemonis (2017-18) and Jeff Mercer (2019). He recorded 189 base hits during his career in Bloomington and helped IU to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Gorski was drafted in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft – the highest picked player from IU since Kyle Schwarber went in the first round in 2014. Gorski spent the better part of six years working his way through the minor leagues. He spent multiple seasons in Triple-A, playing in his hometown of Indianapolis.
Indiana has now had five former players see MLB action in 2025. Gorski joins Kyle Schwarber, Tim Herrin, Kyle Hart and Craig Yoho.
There were just three days between MLB debuts for former Hoosiers Yoho (Milwaukee – April 21) and Gorski (Pittsburgh – April 24). It narrowly beats out the shortest span between debuts in program history. Ernie Andres (April 16, 1946) and John Corriden (April 20, 1946) were separated by just four days nearly 80 years ago.
Last 6 MLB Debuts – Former Indiana Players
• Matt Gorski (Pirates) – April 24, 2025 vs. Angels
• Craig Yoho (Brewers) – April 21, 2025 vs. Giants
• Tanner Gordon (Rockies) – July 7, 2024 vs. Royals
• Andrew Saalfrank (Diamondbacks) – September 5th, 2023 vs. Rockies
• Tim Herrin (Guardians) – April 2, 2023 vs. Mariners
• Scott Effross (Cubs) – August 29, 2021 vs. White Sox
For complete coverage of former IU athletes in the professional ranks, GO HERE.
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