When you ask any Pittsburgher about recent baseball memories, there’s one common name that usually comes to mind with them; Andrew McCutchen. From 2009 to 2017 McCutchen went from promising rookie to Pittsburgh legend.

Andrew “Cutch” McCutchen was drafted 11th overall in 2005 by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of high school and elected to sign with them rather than fulfill his scholarship at the University of Florida. McCutchen climbed the rankings fairly quickly before making his debut in the major leagues on June 4, 2009. He turned heads immediately and ended up finishing 4th in rookie of the year voting slashing a .286 batting average with 12 home runs and 54RBIs. 2010 was more of the same as Andrew would finish with a very similar stat line of a .286 batting average, 16 home runs, 56RBIs, and 33 stolen bases which was 5th best in the National League. In 2011, McCutchen finally made his 1st all star game replacing Milwaukee Brewers Outfielder Ryan Braun. Cutch saw growth in power hitting this year finishing with career highs in home runs (23) and RBIs (89). 2012 was the takeoff year for McCutchen after he signed himself a hefty extension worth 51.5 million dollars over six years and boy did it look like a steal. Not only did he make his 2nd straight all star game but was also elected to participate in the Home Run Derby. It was also the year of accolades including his first player of the month award in June, receiving his first Silver Slugger Award, the National League Defensive Player of the Year Award, and finishing in 3rd for the NL MVP. Career highs were hit yet again in 2012 with a .327 batting average, 194 hits, 31 home runs, and 96RBIs. 2013 was somehow even better and the superstar was beginning to arise. Gracing the cover of MLB the Show ‘13, making his 3rd straight all star game, getting his 2nd Silver Slugger, winning his first career MVP, and leading his team to the playoffs for the first time since 1992. A .317 batting average, 185 hits, 21 home runs, and 84RBIs was the stat line to get him the MVP. By 2014, McCutchen was a household name countrywide and the Pittsburgh Pirates were finally on the map as a team that won’t be messed with. Make it 4 straight all star games for 22 in the black and gold, along with another postseason appearance, and a Silver Slugger to the trophy case. 3rd in MVP voting this time around slashing a .314 batting average season along with 25 home runs and 83RBIs. In 2015, McCutchen continued the accolades, getting hit number 1,000, 5th straight all star game, third straight postseason appearance, fourth straight silver slugger, and his first Roberto Clemente Award along with a 5th place finish in MVP voting. 2016 was a year Pirates fans would like to forget as whatever could go wrong went wrong as Cutch had statistically his worst season of his career and the Pirates missed the playoffs by a long shot after such a promising couple of seasons. Going into 2017, trade talks began to swirl as the contract of number 22 was set to expire in 2 years time. Before spring training he joined team USA for the World Baseball Classic helping them win their first ever gold medal. He put up a respectable stat line with a .279 batting average, 28 home runs, and 88RBIs but the Pirates missed the playoffs again. By the time the off-season hit, General Manager Neal Huntington decided to make some key changes and begin a rebuild which included trading Andrew McCutchen.

Andrew McCutchen was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Jan 18, 2018 in exchange for Kyle Crick, Bryan Reynolds, and an international bonus pool slot. Just months later the Giants would send Cutch to the New York Yankees for their playoff push. Following that season for the first time in his career, McCutchen could choose where he wanted to go. He elected to head back to the state of Pennsylvania but on the other side; Philadelphia. $50 million dollars spread amongst 3 years to join the Phillies going into the 2019 season. His tenure with the Phillies could be described as a solid player with injuries that plagued him along the way. In 2022, he came back to the NL Central as the Milwaukee Brewers were the team this time around. Another average year for the once MVP outfielder as many wondered if that would be the end of the historic career of Andrew McCutchen or would he circle back to where it all began.

On January 20, 2023 it was made official, he was coming home. A career that has been phenomenal to this point, World Series less, and he elected to come to the place where it all started. A career stat line of .277 batting average, 287 home runs, 1002 RBIs, a bWAR of 47, .838 OPS, and a whopping 205 stolen bases.

The 2023 Pittsburgh Pirates are a team that is looking to take the next step with a retooled young roster. The likes of veteran pieces added such as Catcher Austin Hedges, Designated Hitter Carlos Santana, First Baseman Ji-Man Choi, Utility man Connor Joe, Pitchers Rich Hill and Vince Velasquez, along with McCutchen were brought in to help set the standard and teach the “young bucs” the ways of the league. Outfielders in the system such as Jack Suwinski, Travis Swaggerty, Caanan-Smith Njigba, Cal Mitchell, amongst others can learn a lot from a man that has ran the PNC Park track hundreds of times. This is not only a man that can teach, this is someone who can mentor everyone, who knows how winning baseball can be achieved. This is someone who has packed PNC Park to its brim and led them to 3 straight playoff appearances. This is someone who helped Pirates fans have hope in their team again, believe in what’s coming to the future of their franchise. Yes, this is a move to get fans back in the stands obviously, but it’s so much more than that. With McCutchen back in the picture, those old hopes and dreams we all had in 2013 are all rekindled again. Even if this is for one year, we all get to see someone who gave us the best memories any Pirates fan has seen since the early 1990s. “I’m not here as a spokesman for the Pirates. I’m not here on a farewell tour,” he said. “I’m here to play. I’m here to help this ballclub win. That’s first and foremost. That’s what I want people to know.” So with all that being said, there’s only one more thing I can say.
Thank you Andrew McCutchen and welcome home. We missed you.