McCutchen Leading Way for New Look Pirates

With several new faces representing the present and future of the Pittsburgh Pirates, make no mistake, Andrew McCutchen remains the club’s leader.

Now, at the start of his sixteenth MLB season (11 with Pittsburgh), “Cutch” is still the man his teammates watch for and listen to for guidance. At this past week’s season home opener with the Baltimore Orioles, McCutchen was in manager Derek Shelton’s lineup as the designated hitter for a reason.

Beyond the fact that this is the role Pirates’ management has McCutchen penciled in for on a regular basis for the 2024 season, the 2013 National League MVP represents the exciting playoff Pittsburgh clubs of not too many seasons back.

While Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds, and Mitch Keller are among the players under long-term contracts, McCutchen is working on his second consecutive one-year deal for a reported $5 million.

At 37, McCutchen could still fill in at all three outfield positions. As the face of the franchise, seeing his uniform number 22 on the field and in the dugout, team general manager Ben Cherington’s message is simple, “Watch and learn.”

When you have a major name like McCutchen on your 26-man roster, a player who has racked up an MLB resume, beginning in 2009, that includes five all-star selections, four Silver Slugger Awards, and a Rawlings Gold Glove, how could his presence be anything but a positive influence on his teammates?

From firsthand observation, McCutchen was regularly among the first to enter the clubhouse at Pirate City and LECOM Park each morning during the recent Pirates' spring training. He was dressed, bat in hand and off to the cages. When fielding drills were scheduled in the early morning southwest Florida heat, the 2005 first-round draft pick was paired up with teammates for a catch.

Why should fellow Pirates keep a keen eye or two on their celebrated teammate? For one, McCutchen gets on base. Last season, his first with Pittsburgh since 2017, the native Floridian smacked 100 hits in 112 games. McCutchen passed the 2,000-hit mark last June. Heading into the second game of the Pirates’ opening homestand of the season, he is one home run shy of 300.

McCutchen uses his baseball smarts to draw walks when not rounding the bases from a hit or a round-tripper. He collected 75 walks last season and took four pitches more than 1,000 times in his career.

As the 2024 National League season embarks on its second full week, fellow National League challengers Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and Chicago are expected to contend for the divisional championship. But, with McCutchen leading the Pirates’ charge, there’s no discounting the potential to be unlocked at P&C Park on Federal Street in Pittsburgh.

There’s no reason not to believe that McCutchen will be a steady hand in the batter’s box this season. In eight games this past Grapefruit League season, he hit an impressive .316 and drew two walks and six hits, all in 19 at-bats.

With McCutchen back with the Buccos in 2024, going back to the club’s winning future should make for some exciting baseball all summer long.