Andrew McCutchen Turns Back the Clock in Pirates Home Opener

PITTSBURGH — The days of Andrew McCutchen roaming the outfield grass are becoming less frequent at this stage of his career.

McCutchen, now 38 years old, will always be best remembered for his days manning center field for the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier in his career. His sliding plays and leaping grabs up against the fence were part of the reason he won a Gold Glove there in 2013.

But McCutchen returned to the Pirates prior to the start of the 2023 season to be the team’s primary designated hitter.

He’s only played the outfield sparingly since he returned, with his last start in right field last year on May 19. But the veteran was in the lineup as a right fielder in the Pirates’ 9-4 loss to the New York Yankees in their home opener on Friday.

“It’s like riding a bike,” McCutchen said with a smile. “Some things you may lose physically, but when it comes to playing the outfield, I feel I can still do it. I may not be able to do it as much as I used to, but when given the opportunity, I know I can play a good enough outfield where I know I’m not hurting the team.”

McCutchen, who is still in great shape despite being in the twilight of his career, didn’t look like he missed a step.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning, Yankees leadoff hitter Ben Rice hit a liner to deep right field. McCutchen raced back to his left in a full sprint and hauled in the scorcher, saving at least two, and likely three runs from scoring in the process.

Just retire 22 already

WHAT A CATCH BY ANDREW McCUTCHEN pic.twitter.com/AT90lUqXlE

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) April 4, 2025

“He made a really nice play on the ball that Rice hit,” said manager Derek Shelton. “This guy’s prepared…I thought he was really good today. He did a nice job”

The reason McCutchen was forced to play right field for the Pirates is because of an injury to Bryan Reynolds that is preventing him from playing the field.

With Reynolds serving in McCutchen’s usual spot as designated hitter for now, the Pirates needed to find a way to keep his bat in the lineup.

Through the very early part of the season, McCutchen has been one of the Pirates’ better offensive performers. Entering play, McCutchen was carrying a .250/.357/.583 batting line with one of the team’s four home runs.

Those numbers only improved in Friday’s loss as McCutchen finished the game 3 for 4 with all three hits coming off starter Max Fried, who historically has had success against the Pirates’ franchise icon.

Entering Friday, McCutchen only had two hits in 19 at-bats with eight strikeouts against Fried. The two exchanged pleasantries as Fried walked off the mound after McCutchen’s third hit ended his outing.

“He was just like ‘come on man’. I’m just like ‘dude, all of those time you dominated me over the years, no, I’m taking those hits.’ As a starter competing, you want to be able to finish out the innings and go a complete six. Not today.”

Despite boos from an agitated fanbase during part of the pregame ceremonies, McCutchen was greeted to a thunderous ovation — once as his name was announced in the starting lineup and again as he ran out to right field at the start of the game.

This was the 11th home opener for McCutchen with the Pirates, but that connection between the fans and their beloved No. 22 hasn’t changed.

“It means the most to me,” McCutchen said “Obviously I know that you can’t do this forever, so I try to play everyday like it’s going to be my last one. It’s great to get that from the crowd. Obviously I haven’t been able to be out in right to receive that a whole lot, so to do it here on Opening Day in Pittsburgh feels great and meant a lot to me, because who knows if I ever get that opportunity again.

“It was great to do that and experience that. It just felt good being out there, grass under my feet and just playing a game.”