Andrew McCutchen Has Found What’s Been Missing

PITTSBURGH — Round numbers are nice. For a 37-year-old like Andrew McCutchen, they probably feel even sweeter.

McCutchen connected on a three-run home run in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 6-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night at PNC Park. The blast was McCutchen’s 20th of the season, just the second time he’s reached that milestone since 2018.

“To be in this position and to hit that mark, yeah, it makes me smile tonight,” McCutchen said. “It’s nice to be at that number with a handful of games left.”

The veteran has dealt with a lot in the later stages of his career. His first year with the Phillies was cut short after tearing his ACL 59 games into the season. In 2020, he and the rest of the league had to navigate the pandemic-shortened season.

Last year, McCutchen’s feel-good story of returning to the Pirates after five seasons elsewhere ended prematurely due to a partially torn Achilles.

Even in 2024, McCutchen landed on the 10-day injured list in August because of a knee issue, something that’s still lingering.

But McCutchen has been performing well at the plate, really, dating all the way back to the middle of July. He had a 14-game hitting streak sandwiched around his time on the injured list. In 27 games since his OPS dipped to .705 on July 10, he slashed .285/.361/.535. That was before homering and drawing two walks in Tuesday’s win.

He’s quite literally turned back time, and there’s one reason in particular why that’s happened.

“I don’t put numbers in front of me but it’s more of an approach and how can I stay consistent,” McCutchen explained. “That’s been the hardest thing for me over the years, probably since 2020 — just trying to find ways to be consistent. It’s been a challenge.

“I’ve felt like I’ve been in a place the last month a half or so where I’ve been able to be consistent. And I haven’t been able to do that in a very long time. That’s more of what I’m proud of right now, being able to know that I can maintain it, no matter where I’m at that day, no matter how bad I’m feeling, I can be consistent.”

Thanks to his consistency, McCutchen carries a respectable .241/.338/.432 batting line — good for a healthy .770 OPS.

Given his experience and his personality, McCutchen is viewed as the natural leader in a clubhouse that consists of a lot of young players. He continues to set an example.

“I think it’s very important to see a guy that’s been through the season he has, even going back to last year when he had the Achilles injury, to be able to finish,” said manager Derek Shelton.

It’s perhaps fitting that McCutchen mentioned consistency as they secret to his success. Consistency has been what’s plagued the Pirates this season and erased their playoff hopes.

The Pirates were in the thick of the playoff hunt at the end of July before suffering a 10-game losing streak and a disastrous month of August. Although they’ve played better of late, the damage is already been done.

McCutchen still has aspirations of returning to the postseason. The Pirates haven’t been in the playoffs since he was the captain of the ship that floated to three-straight wild card appearances from 2013-15. As a franchise, the Pirates haven’t played in a playoff game without McCutchen since 1992.

He turns 38 years old next month, but McCutchen again expressed his plans to return in 2025. If the Pirates want to return to the playoffs with him on the team, it’ll take more than just his own consistency.

“Because I can do it,” McCutchen said when asked what drives him. “It’s plain and simple. I said this earlier, If I don’t embarrass myself then I’m going to continue keep going and doing it and if I get the opportunity, I’m going to. At the end of the day, that’s me personally, but I would love to win too.

“I haven’t done that in a long time and I haven’t been in the playoffs in a while here and it would be nice to do it here and we’re a special group of guys. We’re a special team. It’s there. Just got to piece the puzzles.”