PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Tuesday night Andrew McCutchen did something only Willie Stargell did previously with the Pirates and then confirmed what he said was already out there.
“I wanted to go home so hopefully I can just continue to finish strong in the season and be able to showcase that I can be capable and able to do it next year," McCutchen said Tuesday night after a 6-4 Pirates win over Miami.
After his eighth 20 home run season as a Pirate, McCutchen confirms Tuesday he wants to come back in 2025. His 20 home runs this season are the most he’s hit since 2021. In 109 games the 37-year-old has 16 doubles, a triple, 50 RBI with a .241 average, .338 on-base percentage and .770 OPS.
"Because I can do it,” McCutchen said. “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.”
Only Bryan Reynolds has more homers with the Pirates in 2024, two more in 31 more games. McCutchen has one more home run than 25-year-old Oneil Cruz in 22 fewer games. It’s an organization in desperate need of power, ----- in the majors in home runs. Per at bat among the regulars, no one does it better wearing black and gold and Cutch loves playing here.
“It’s amazing,” McCutchen told Dan Zangrilli on 93.7 The Fan. “I haven’t played my entire career here. It definitely makes me appreciate it even more. Definitely a sense of pride to be able to do what I’ve done in my career and do some of the things I’ve done in a Pirates uniform.”
“Everyone knows, I never wanted to even leave. That was never part of my plan.”
He told 93.7 The Fan he enjoys that his children can understand the love he has for the city and fans and in return how Pittsburgh treats him and his family.
“I’ve always appreciated, I’ve always appreciated, but I have even more of an appreciation for it, not just for one year, but to be here for my second year back,” McCutchen said on 93.7 The Fan. “To be around the guys, to relive and feel some of those things I felt in the past. It feels great to be able to experience it with my family, my kids. They never had that opportunity. I’m glad they to experience it with me.”
The organization doesn’t have a choice. For two reasons must bring him back. One he still produces and provides power that most in the current lineup can’t. Two, the public relations hit for not re-signing McCutchen would resonate for a generation. Not for a season, not for a few years, but for a generation.
McCutchen told Zangrilli that he’s battling through some bumps and bruises but is in a better health situation than last year. He also told reporters after the game he’s itching to win more games.
“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,” McCutchen said. “We're a special team. It's there. Just got to piece the puzzle."
While not the young corner piece he was in 2013, the 2025 puzzle doesn’t work unless McCutchen is in it.
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